Metarhizium rileyi based biopesticide against Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm)
Metarhizium rileyi based biopesticide against Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm)
The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium rileyi is known to cause natural infections in some caterpillars. This study aims of developing a sustainable option for control of the fall armyworm (FAW) in maize. Association of M. rileyi with Spodoptera frugiperda baculovirus (SfMNPV) and delivery strategies were also investigated.
Results
The selected isolate (CG381) was effective in the laboratory at a low concentration (~ 4 × 103 conidia cm−2), killing >95% of FAW larvae within 8 days. In the greenhouse assay, applications of conidia suspended in water or as dry powder in maize whorls (~ 6.3 × 106 conidia per plant) produced similar larval mortalities (88%–96%). In the field trials, conventional spraying of unformulated conidia (0.6 and 1.2 × 1012 conidia ha−1) caused low larval mortalities (27–31%). Simultaneous application of either unformulated or oil-based formulations of M. rileyi conidia and S. frugiperda baculovirus (SfMNPV) to plant rows caused larval mortalities comparable with each of the pathogens applied alone. However, when a formulation containing both pathogens was sprayed directly into the whorls, the overall mortality of S. frugiperda larvae due to pathogens (mostly to M. rileyi infections) reached ~ 59%, two fold higher than the other treatments with conventional spraying, whereas in the control, the overall mortality was only 1%.
Conclusion
Optimizing exposure of S. frugiperda larvae to an inoculum of virulent entomopathogens through directed applications to maize whorls is critical to produce satisfactory mortality levels and is promising for integrated pest management. It showed possibilities for FAW control in maize using the fungus M. rileyi and/or S. frugiperda baculovirus. Characteristics of selected fungal isolates such as high virulence and conidial yield on rice are crucial for field applications. However, increased exposure of S. frugiperda through application of virulent isolates aimed at the whorls was critical to produce effective control. These findings developing new delivery strategies to significantly increase the performance of biopesticides for the control of this pest.
Reference:
Faria, M., Souza, D.A., Sanches, M.M., Schmidt, F.G.V., Oliveira, C.M., Benito, N.P. and Lopes, R.B., 2022. Evaluation of key parameters for developing a Metarhizium rileyi‐based biopesticide against Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in maize: laboratory, greenhouse, and field trials. Pest Management Science, 78(3), pp.1146-1154.
