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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416803
Research Project: Novel Approaches for Managing Key Pests of Peach and Pecan

Location: Fruit and Tree Nut Research

Title: Dual-strategy Approach for Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Control: Endophytic Beauveria bassiana and Bacillus thuringiensis Topical Application

Author
item YASIN, MUHAMMAD - Islamia University Of Bahawalpur
item WAKIL, WAQAS - University Of Agriculture, Faisalabad
item KAVALLIERATOS, NICKOLAS - Agricultural University Of Athens
item ELEFTHERIADOU, NIKOLETA - Agricultural University Of Athens
item NAEEM, A. - University Of Agriculture, Faisalabad
item QAYYUM, M.A. - Senckenberg German Entomological Institute
item ASRAR, F. - Government College University
item ALHEWAIRINI, S.S. - Qassim University
item Shapiro Ilan, David

Submitted to: Crop Protection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/13/2024
Publication Date: 9/30/2024
Citation: Yasin, M., Wakil, W., Kavallieratos, N.G., Eleftheriadou, N., Naeem, A., Qayyum, M., Asrar, F., Alhewairini, S., Shapiro Ilan, D.I. 2024. Dual-strategy Approach for Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Control: Endophytic Beauveria bassiana and Bacillus thuringiensis Topical Application. Crop Protection. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2024.106954.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2024.106954

Interpretive Summary: The red palm weevil is a major insect pest that attacks date palm trees. Current control measures rely largely on chemical insecticides. The chemical treatments can be limited in effectiveness and also can cause harm to humans and the environment. Therefore, alternative control measures are needed. Microbial agents that kill insects, such as certain fungi and bacteria, are considered to be safe bio-pesticides, which are safe to humans and the environment. We investigated the combination treatment of a fungus (called Beauveria bassiana) and a bacterium (called Bacillus thuringiensis or abbreviated as Bt) for their potential to control the target pest. The fungus was applied in a special manner by incorporating it into the plant (this is called an endophyte). The bacteria was applied topically. Leaves treated with both the fungus and bacteria controlled red palm weevil better than either microbial agent applied alone. The research indicates that combined treatments of endophytic fungus and topically applied bacteria may be a viable and sustainable approach to controlling the red palm weevil.

Technical Abstract: In an innovative approach to biological pest management, the efficacy of endophytically colonized Beauveria bassiana and topically applied Bacillus thuringiensis was evaluated against various larval instars (2nd, 4th, and 6th) of the red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus. Initially, date palm leaf petioles were inoculated with five distinct isolates of the fungus to ascertain their endophytic potential over two years. Subsequently, the most proficiently colonized fungal isolate was selected for subsequent experimentation. During individual entomopathogen applications, larval instars of RPW were presented with plant petioles and colonized with fungus or immersed in bacterial inoculum. 'n combined treatments, larvae were exposed to both entomopathogen-treated plant petioles concurrently. The tested bacterium was administered at three varying concentrations. Larval mortalities were markedly lower in treatments involving individual entomopathogens, whereas integrated applications yielded higher mortalities. Treatments associated with heightened larval mortalities corresponded to diminished pupation, adult emergence, and egg eclosion rates. Furthermore, the simultaneous application of both entomopathogens bolstered larval mortalities of RPW both additively and synergistically. Similarly, the developmental periods of various insect stages were substantially influenced by combined entomopathogen applications. The inherent prevalence of these pathogens and their capacity to internally colonize crop plants for extended durations render them valuable adversaries against diverse cryptic-feeding insects such as RPW. Nonetheless, a thorough evaluation of the most suitable entomopathogen strains and their optimal doses in field conditions is imperative before formulating concrete recommendations for date palm growers.