Local isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner, 1915) (Bacteria: Bacillaceae) from Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae) includes cry1, cry3 and cry4 genes and their insecticidal activities

Abstract

Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae) is a primary pest on boxwood. The larvae of this pest cause damage by eating the leaves. They prevent the plant from performing photosynthesis, gnaw the bark of the shoots, damage the cambium layer and thus dry the boxwood shoots and branches. The boxwood moth, which is an exotic species in Türkiye, was first found in gardens and parks in Istanbul in 2011 and subsequently in Artvin and Düzce in 2015, and Bartın in 2016. The aim of this study is to develop a control method for this pest by considering the damage of the species. In this context, bacteria were isolated from the larvae collected from Artvin in May 2021 and bacteria screening was conducted to obtain an effective isolate. At the end of this isolation, Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner, 1915) (Bacteria: Bacillaceae) was found. When cry gene analysis of this bacterium was performed, it was determined that it contained cry1, cry3 and cry4 genes. The insecticidal activity of this bacterium was tested on C. perspectalis and a mortality rate of 85% was obtained.