Abstract
BackgroundThe fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an important pest of tomatoes that reduces yield and fruit quality resulting in losses of up to 100%. The pest has developed resistance to chemical insecticides, therefore necessitating alternative control measures. The entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae have been exploited extensively for biological control of the insect pests of economic importance.ResultsThe potential of B. bassiana (Bals.) Vuillemin (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) (BbC1) and M. anisopliae (Metchn.) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) (M150) to persist as endophytic EPF in two tomato varieties, Matina and Harzfeuer, which spread within host tissues and protect plants against larval attack of S. frugiperda was evaluated. Tomato seedlings were inoculated by dipping roots in either BbC1 or M150 spore suspensions (108 spores/ ml). The qPCR analyses revealed the presence of both fungi in > 65% of the tested samples. Second-instar larvae of S. frugiperda were introduced onto inoculated plants that revealed the presence of fungal DNA and non-inoculated plants, 14 days after inoculation. Treating tomato plants with the EPF resulted in reducing weights and slowing larval development of Spodoptera. Larvae fed on BbC1 and M150-treated Matina significantly reduced weights than those treated with Harzfeuer tomato plants. The tomato variety Matina conferred enhanced level of resistance to the S. frugiperda larvae, further aggravated by the presence of both fungi through dietary stress resulting in slow development and reduce larval weight.ConclusionThese results may serve the tomato production systems and the S. frugiperda integrated management programs.
Highlights
Introduction of larvae onto inoculated plantsSecond-instar larvae (4 day old) of S. frugiperda were introduced onto 12 plants, each of inoculated and noninoculated plants after 14 days of inoculation
The present study aimed to evaluate the persistence of two entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) isolates as endophytes in tomato plants, which spread within host tissues and protect the plants against larval infestation of S. frugiperda
The results of the present study revealed that the weights of S. frugiperda larvae were affected when the larvae were fed on Beauveria bassiana variety C1 (BbC1) and Metarhizium anisopliae variety 150 (M150) root-inoculated tomato plants
Summary
Introduction of larvae onto inoculated plantsSecond-instar larvae (4 day old) of S. frugiperda (one per plant) were introduced onto 12 plants, each of inoculated (that tested positive for fungal DNA) and noninoculated plants after 14 days of inoculation. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is an important pest of tomatoes that reduces yield and fruit quality resulting in losses of up to 100%. S. frugiperda is an economic pest of > 60 different crops including sorghum, rice, wheat, beans, cotton, potatoes, and tomatoes. It reduces yield and fruit quality of tomatoes grown in greenhouse and open fields and may result in losses of up to 100%. Chemical sprays are minimally effective due to the resistance of S. frugiperda to many pesticides and because of the pest’s development that takes place inside the plant or the soil, and they are out of reach of pesticides. The damages caused by larvae begin after transplanting the seedlings to the field and can extend throughout the plant’s development
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