Studies on the application of fungi and bacteria controlling insect pests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract

The diversity of interrelationships between fungi, bacteria and insects presents unlimited opportunities for studying antagonistic fungi and bacteria causing mortality in insects by producing disease and toxins which are detrimental to insect life and can be used to control harmful insects. Fungal and bacterial parasitism has been used effectively for controlling agricultural pests all over the world. Its application has a great advantage, for example, the effectiveness of synthetic insecticides can be controlled by using entomogenous fungi and bacteria as natural insecticides. Fungi and bacteria from different localities of Azad Jammu and Kashmir were collected and their insecticidal properties were searched out. A total of 40 species of fungi and two bacterial species were tested for their insecticidal habits on maize stem borer (Chilo partellus). These species were Aspergillus clavatus, A. fumigatus, A. fischeri, A. ruber, A. unguis A. sydowi, A. versicolor, A. flavipes, A. ustus, A. terreus, A. niger, A. wentii, A. flavus, A. bisporus, A. candidus, A. oryzae, A. ochraceous, A. giganteus, A. tamarii, A. luchuensis, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. expensum, P. viridicatum, P. commune, P. soltium, P. roquefortii, Paecilomyces elegans, P. carnes, P. varioti, P flavescens, P. fumoso-roseus, Metarrhizium anisopliae, M. brunneum, Venturia inequalis, Helminthosporium maydis, Alternaria tenussima, Ceratocystis paradoxa, Colletotrichum capsici, Diplodia maydis, Beauveria bassiana, Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus sphaericus. Eleven species Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. oryzae, A. candidus, A. bisporus, A. tamarii, Metarrhizium anisopliae, M. brunneum, Beauveria bassiana, Bacillus thuringiensis and B. sphaericus caused mortality in larvae, pupae, dewaxed pupae and adult of maize stem borer (Chilo partellus). Eight species of insects were collected from natural conditions and their susceptibility was measured for all the described species of fungi and bacteria. Five species of insects – Triporhiza incertula, T. innotata, Cydia pomonella, Pieris brassicae, and Mythimna seperata – showed susceptibility to A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. oryzae, A. tamarii, A. bisporus, M. anisopliae, M. brunneum, Bacillus thuringiensis and B. sphaericus. Food substrate of fungi and bacteria were also used against maize stem borer. Nine fungi and two bacterial species herein described gave positive results. Field trials of fungi and bacteria were also performed against maize stem borer.