Evaluation of biocontrol agents for Graphosoma lineatum (L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in experimental conditions

Abstract

Graphosoma lineatum (Hemiptera: Pentatomoidae) is a polyphagia that feeds on plants from the Apiaceae family, including Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Daucus carota L., Ferulago campestris (Besser) Grecescu. It is reported as an important pest in our country, especially in anise production areas. In general, pests prefer generative organs of plants and harm them by feeding on maturing or matured seeds. Chemical control methods are usually preferred in the control of pests. The adverse effects of pesticides on humans and the environment enhance the importance of biological control. For this reason, possible biological control efforts against pests should be produced as an alternative to chemical control. For this purpose, commercially available biocontrol products including Nibortem (Verticillium lecani), Bio Magic (Metarhizium anisopliae), Nostalgist SL (Beauveria bassiana) and Priority SL (Paecilomyces fumosoreus) have been used against pests. Graphosoma lineatum adults used for the cultures in the experiment were collected by hand from D. carota plants found at the edge of the practice area of Ondokuz Mayis University Agricultural Faculty. In the study, all the biocontrol products were applied by spraying a dose of 250 ml \ 100 lt water directly on to the G. lineatum adults. Experiments were conducted in 5 repeats and with 10 individuals. The study was checked daily and dead individuals were counted, and the counting continued for 8 days. As a result, it has been demonstrated that commercially available biocontrol products can control biocontrol the pests in question. As a result, we observed at the end of 8th day, the efficiency of B. bassiana was 100% while the mortality rate of P. fumosoroseus, M. anisopliae, and V. lecanii were 95.45%, 81.82%, and 68.18%, respectively. The isolates of Akca-2 and 27-1A were efficient at 90.91% and 95.45% respectively. Lethal time (LT) values were as mentioned below; LT90 values were; 1.43 days for Thiacloprid & Deltamethrin, 1.68 days for S. spinosa, 5.85 days for 27-1A, 6.15 days for Akca-2, 6.87 days for P. fumosoroseus, 6.95 days for B. bassiana, 6.96 days for Azadirachtin, 8.54 days for M. anisopliae and 8.93 days for V. lecanii. We concluded that B. bassiana, P. fumosoroseus, S. spinosa and the isolates from 27-1A, Akca-2, Azadirachtin had as a similar efficiency as Thiacloprid & Deltamethrin had. As a result, entomopathogenic fungi, bacteria and Azadiractin used in this study can be used against G. lineatum adults for organic control.