PLoS ONE (2016) 11 (3 - e0152399)

Hany M. Hussein, Oxana Skoková Habustová, Vladimír Puza and Rostislav Zemek (2016)
Laboratory evaluation of Isaria fumosorosea CCM 8367 and Steinernema feltiae Ustinov against immature stages of the Colorado potato beetle
PLoS ONE 11 (3 - e0152399)
Abstract: The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, has developed resistance to most registered pesticides and has become one of the most difficult insect pests to control. Development of new biopesticides targeting this pest might solve the resistance problem and contribute to sustainable crop production. Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the efficacy of Isaria fumosorosea (syn. Paecilomyces fumosoroseus) strain CCM 8367 against L. decemlineata when applied alone or combined with the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae. The last-instar larvae of the Colorado potato beetle showed the highest susceptibility to I. fumosorosea followed by pre-pupae and pupae. The median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) was estimated to be 1.03×10⁶ blastospores/ml. The strain CCM 8367 was more virulent, causing 92.6% mortality of larvae (LT₅₀ = 5.0 days) compared to the reference strain Apopka 97, which caused 54.5% mortality (LT₅₀ = 7.0 days). The combined application of the fungus with the nematodes increased the mortality up to 98.0%. The best results were obtained when S. feltiae was applied simultaneously with I. fumosorosea (LT₅₀ = 2.0 days); later application negatively affected both the penetration rate and the development of the nematodes. We can conclude that the strain CCM 8367 of I. fumosorosea is a prospective biocontrol agent against immature stages of L. decemlineata. For higher efficacy, application together with an entomopathogenic nematode is recommended.
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Database assignments for author(s): Rostislav Zemek, Vladimír Puza

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.
	Leptinotarsa decemlineata
Cordyceps fumosorosea (entomopathogen)	Leptinotarsa decemlineata		Czech Republic
Steinernema feltiae/Xenorhabdus bovienii (entomopathogen)	Leptinotarsa decemlineata