African Entomology (2018) 26, 73-83

V. Tumuhaise, S. Ekesi, N.K. Maniania, H.E.Z. Tonnang, C.M. Tanga, P.N. Ndegwa, L.W. Irungu, R. Srinivasan and S.A. Mohamed (2018)
Temperature-dependent growth and virulence, and mass production potential of two candidate isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin for managing Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on cowpea
African Entomology 26 (1), 73-83
Abstract: Entomopathogenic fungi are increasingly gaining recognition as a viable alternative to synthetic insecticides for pest management; their efficacy is influenced by several biotic and abiotic factors. In this study, the effect of temperature on germination, growth and virulence of two isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae, ICIPE 18 and ICIPE 69, against first-instar larvae of Maruca vitrata at temperatures ranging from 15–35 °C, and mass-production potential of the isolates were assessed under laboratory conditions. Minimum, optimum and maximum threshold temperatures for efficacy of the best performing isolate, ICIPE 69, were estimated by the quadratic equation which emerged as the best model among the nonlinear mathematical expressions tested. Neither isolate germinated at 15 °C while germination was low at 35 °C for both. The optimum temperature for germination, radial growth and virulence of ICIPE 69 and ICIPE 18 ranged between 25–30 °C and 25–33 °C, respectively. Mortality of M. vitrata by both isolates ranged between 56.0 and 91.6%across the different temperatures, with the highest mortality occurring at 25 and 30 °C for ICIPE 69 and ICIPE 18, respectively. The shortest LT50 values were 2.5 days for ICIPE 18 and 2.2 days for ICIPE 69 at 33 °C and 25 °C, respectively. The quadratic model predicted 25–30 °C as the optimum temperature range for maximum efficacy of M. anisopliae isolate ICIPE 69 against M. vitrata. Upper and lower threshold temperatures were predicted as 40 °C and 10 °C, respectively. Comparison of aerial conidia production on rice showed that ICIPE 69 yielded higher amounts of conidia (18.4 g conidia/kg rice) than ICIPE 18 (12.4 g conidia/kg rice). The results suggest that ICIPE 69 is a promising candidate for biocontrol of M. vitrata.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Sunday Ekesi, Nguya K. Maniania

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Maruca vitrata	Cowpea and relatives (Vigna)
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Maruca vitrata	Cowpea and relatives (Vigna)