Biocontrol Science and Technology (2007) 17, 853-864

Nguyen T.H. Nguyen, Christian Borgemeister, Hans-Michael Poehling and Gisbert Zimmermann (2007)
Laboratory investigations on the potential of entomopathogenic fungi for biocontrol of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae and pupae
Biocontrol Science and Technology 17 (8), 853-864
Abstract: The susceptibility of third instar Helicoverpa armigera to seven strains of three entomopathogenic fungal species, i.e. Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, was tested under laboratory conditions using the larval immersion method. High efficacies ranging from 68 to 100% corrected mortality were recorded with more profound effects in treatments with B. bassiana and P. fumosoroseus strains. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) for L3 was 6.0×10⁵ in M. anisopliae 79, 1.5×10⁵ in B. bassiana 124 and 4.2×10⁴ in P. fumosoroseus 14. These three strains were further used to characterize the age-dependent mortality of different larval stages (L2-L5) and the effect against pupae of H. armigera. Larval stages did not differ in their mortality but differed i in median lethal time, with shorter values recorded in the second instar. Tested fungi also caused a high reduction between 74.4 and 100% in the emergence of pupae using the soil inoculation method and the pupal immersion technique. All three fungal species, especially P. fumosoroseus, have a high potential for biocontrol of H. armigera larvae and also as a soil treatment targeting the pupae.
(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): Christian Borgemeister, Hans-Michael Poehling, Gisbert Zimmermann

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Helicoverpa armigera
Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen)	Helicoverpa armigera
Cordyceps fumosorosea (entomopathogen)	Helicoverpa armigera
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Helicoverpa armigera