A laboratory assessment of the potential of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin as a biocontrol agent of Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

• Published in: Journal of stored products research 2014-10, Vol.59, p.185-189
• Main Authors: Kaur, Sanehdeep, Thakur, Abhinay, Rajput, Mamta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Beauveria bassiana; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; Control; Corcyra cephalonica; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Harvesting. Postharvest. Storage; Lepidoptera; Pathogenicity; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Pyralidae; Sorghum; Vegetative propagation. Sowing and planting. Harvesting
• ISSN: 0022-474X; 1879-1212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jspr.2014.08.004

Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a wide spread pest of stored grains and responsible for considerable damage in godowns and warehouses. Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, the most common and ubiquitous fungal entomopathogen is known to have high potential for the control of insects belonging to various orders. To evaluate the pathogenicity of B. bassiana against C. cephalonica, sorghum grains were treated with three conidial concentrations of B. bassiana i.e. 1.49 × 105, 4.05 × 106, 2.02 × 108 spores/ml. The highest concentration was found to be the most effective. It induced significantly higher larval mortality. Adverse effects such as reduced adult emergence and longevity of C. cephalonica were also observed when the grains were treated with B. bassiana. Significantly lesser number of adults emerged from pupae, when shorghum grains were treated with 2.02 × 108 spores/ml. The adverse effects were also exhibited as malformed adults that lived for a short period. Overall study showed that B. bassiana gave effective control of C. cephalonica and thus may play a pivotal role in the integrated pest management program. [Display omitted] •Pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana was evaluated against Corcyra cephalonica.•Significant larval mortality was recorded at 2.02 × 108 spores/ml concentration.•B. bassiana prolonged the developmental period for larvae.•Adverse effects of B. bassiana were also exhibited as malformed adults.