Biocontrol potential of native entomopathogenic fungi against Phyllotreta spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on radish: a study of damage suppression and population dynamics
Aug 2026· Archives of Microbiology· Vol 208· 0 citations· 54 references
Medicine
TL;DR
Assessment of damage potential and sustainable management options in radish, a highly susceptible, short-duration crop that experiences both foliar and root damage, and the potential of native Beauveria bassiana isolates for integration into sustainable pest management programs highlights the potential of native entomopathogenic fungi for integration into sustainable pest management programs.
The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a highly polyphagous pest that has rapidly expanded across Africa, Asia, and Oceania, threatening food security and agricultural productivity. Reliance on synthetic insecticides for FAW management is increasingly challenged by insecticide resistance, environmental contamination, and adverse effects on non-target organisms and human health. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the potential of endophytic fungi as a sustainable strategy for FAW management. Following a systematic literature search, 59 original research articles published over the past 41 years were evaluated. These studies investigated 44 fungal species across 37 host crops, with Zea mays representing the most extensively studied system. The fungal species most frequently assessed were Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (s.l.), and Epichloe coenophialum. Overall, several fungal species successfully colonized plant tissues and reduced FAW performance through increased larval mortality, delayed development, and reduced feeding. These effects were associated with the production of bioactive secondary metabolites, induction of plant defense responses, and alteration of volatile organic compound emissions. Despite these promising findings, important knowledge gaps remain. Studies assessing effects on non-target organisms and natural enemies are scarce, and field validation remains limited. Research efforts are also geographically biased, with relatively few studies conducted in Africa despite the continent experiencing some of the highest FAW-related losses. Future research should prioritize field evaluations, multitrophic interaction studies, investigations in underrepresented regions, and socio-economic analyses to support farmer adoption. Addressing these gaps will be critical for determining the practical role of endophytic fungi in sustainable FAW management.
Nongamanégré Kouanda, Ibtissem Ben Fekih, M. Cokola et al.· Plants· 0 citations
Scanning electron micrographs of Sclerotium rolfsii paired with effective Trichoderma and Bacillus isolates showed swollen hyphae with cell-wall damage, providing clear evidence of antagonistic interactions caused by volatile compounds produced by B. amyloliquefaciens and T. harzianum.
A. A. Khan, V. Bhuvaneswari, P. Anisha et al.· Asian Research Journal of Ag...· 0 citations
ABSTRACT The red palm mite Raoiella indica Hirst, 1924 (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) is an important invasive pest affecting tropical crops, particularly coconut and banana, in several countries. In Brazil, pest management is limited by the reduced availability of registered chemical control products, which may favor the selection of resistant populations. Symbiotic bacteria of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), such as Xenorhabdus (Thomas and Poinar, 1979) and Photorhabdus (Boemare and Akhurst 2006), are known to produce metabolites with insecticidal and acaricidal activity, but their activity against R. indica has not been evaluated yet. In this study, an exploratory laboratory bioassay was conducted to assess the acaricidal activity of 15 bacterial isolates of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus through topical application to adult females of R. indica. Mortality was recorded over a six-day period and compared with water and culture-medium controls. Several isolates induced mortality rates exceeding 95%, and two isolates resulted in complete adult mortality. In addition, oviposition was strongly reduced by specific isolates. Females exposed to isolates CER144 and CER09 laid on average 0.03 and 0.15 eggs per alive female per day, respectively, compared with approximately 0.85 eggs per alive female per day in both controls, indicating a reduction of over 80% in egg production. Although preliminary, these findings provide the first evidence that EPN-symbiotic bacteria represent a promising and underexplored source of compounds for the biological control of R. indica, opening perspectives for sustainable pest management in tropical and subtropical systems.
L. M. González-Cano, L. L. Godoy, J. Chacón-Orozco et al.· Bragantia· 0 citations
Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are insect-parasitic nematodes that function as effective biological control agents against a wide range of insect pests.Owing to their eco-friendly nature and high pathogenicity; they are considered important components for sustainable and eco-friendly pest management strategies in modern agriculture. The present investigation aims to reduce the use of harmful chemical insecticides by usingnative and effective isolates of EPNs. So, we conducted multiple surveysfor isolation and identification of native potential EPNs isolatesfrom various districts of southern Rajasthan particularly from Udaipur, Chittorgarh and Pratapgarh. Out of total 77 soil samples collected from various habitats, 7 samples were found positive for EPNs infestation. Upon analysis, the highest frequency of EPNs occurrence was observed 11.36 percent in Udaipur district followed by 7.40 per cent in Chittorgarh district and zero in Pratapgarh district. The maximum (20.00 %) occurrence of EPNs was found in samples collected from the orchard ecosystem (fig, sapota and guava) followed by uncultivated land (10.52%). All seven isolates were evaluated for their bio-efficacy against greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella under in-vitro conditions. By evaluating the efficacy, two most virulent isolates, i.e. Heterorhabdistis indica P-1 and Oscheius tipulae P-2, were considered and identified on morphological and molecular characterization.
P. Gurjar, Deepak Kumar, R. Kumhar et al.· International Journal of Agr...· 0 citations
Thrips tabaci
is a polyphagous pest of economic importance and remains has persistent challenge in onion and other vegetable production systems worldwide. Its cryptic feeding behavior, overlapping generations, and high reproductive potential have contributed to the rapid development of resistance to commonly used insecticides. This review critically examines the diverse management strategies developed for the control of
T. tabaci
. First the review examines key aspects of pest’s biology and ecology, followed by an overview of resistance issues related to chemical control, and the growing necessity for environmentally sustainable alternatives. Biological control options, including predatory bugs and mites, entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes, as well as botanical insecticides and essential oils, are discussed with emphasis to their mechanisms of action, efficacy, and practical limitations. Cultural control practices such as intercropping, mulching, crop rotation, trap cropping, and plant health optimization are examined for their role in reducing thrips pressure. Emerging technologies, including RNA interference (RNAi), precision monitoring tools and action thresholds, are also evaluated. Special attention is given to host plant resistance and the influence of varietal traits in shaping thrips behavior. By integrating conventional, ecological, and novel biotechnological approaches, this review highlights the importance of a multidimensional IPM framework to achieve sustainable
T. tabaci
management while safeguarding environmental and agroecosystem health. For famers and policymakers, these findings indicate that durable, cost-effective
T. tabaci
control will depend on investing in resistant cultivars, supporting access to quality biocontrol agents, and embedding monitoring based decision tools in extension and policy frameworks rather than relying on calendar based insecticide use.
Oumaima Moustaid, Dina Zanbot, C. Ramdani et al.· Frontiers in Agronomy· 0 citations
The findings provide a theoretical foundation for accurate disease diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance, and the development of effective chemical control strategies for rubber plantations.
Zhiying Cai, Lili He, Li-Ming Dai et al.· Plants· 0 citations