Returns to research and outreach for integrated pest management of western flower thrips infesting French bean and tomato in Kenya

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Journal of Applied Entomology

Publication Date

12-1-2008

Abstract

The occurrence of deuteromycetous entomopathogenic fungi was determined by examining 224 soil samples from 19 locations in three climatic zones of Mauritius. Three sites were sampled per location: one site under vegetables cultivation, one site under sugar cane plantation and one natural site each within 1 km of each other. Soil samples were baited with the waxmoth larvae Galleria mellonella L. and incubated in the dark at 15, 20, 25 or 30°C for 7, 14 and 21 days. Entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from 77 out of 224 (38.6%) soil samples. Metarhizium anisopliae was isolated from 42 (18.8%) samples, Beauveria bassiana from 24 (10.7%), Metarhizium spp. and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus from 5 (2.2%) each and Beauveria spp. from 1 (0.4%). It was observed that M. anisopliae was isolated more frequently from soils under vegetables as compared to soils under sugarcane or habitat with natural vegetation. Beauveria bassiana was isolated more frequently at the lowest incubation temperature (15°C) while M. anisopliae isolates were recovered more frequently at higher temperatures (25 and 30°C). The pathogenicity of seven isolates of M. anisopliae, five isolates of B. bassiana and two isolates of P. fumosoroseus towards the adults of Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera cucurbitae was tested by topical application of conidial suspension of 1 × 106 conidia/ml. All the isolates tested were pathogenic to the two fruit fly species. Mortality of B. zonata varied between 12.0 and 98.0% and between 2.0 and 94.0% in B. cucurbitae at 5 days post-treatment. Our results suggest that entomopathogenic fungi present locally, could be integrated for the control of B. zonata and B. cucurbitae. © 2008 Ministry of Agro Industry, Food Production and Security.

Keywords

Bactrocera cucurbitae, Bactrocera zonata, Beauveria bassiana, Biocontrol, Metarhizium anisopliae

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS