Endophytic Capacity of Entomopathogenic Fungi in a Pasture Grass and Their Potential to Control the Spittlebug Mahanarva spectabilis (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

Pests in pastures have compromised the production of biomass for feeding livestock herds. Many strategies have been applied to sustainably solve this problem. One viable and innovative technique is the delivery of entomopathogenic fungi through endophytes. Therefore, this study aimed to (i) evaluate...

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Published inAgronomy (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 5; p. 943
Main Authors Campagnani, Michelle O., Auad, Alexander Machado, Maurício, Rogério Martins, Madureira, Ana Paula, Cangussú, Mauroni Alves, Rosa, Luiz Henrique, Pereira, Marcelo Francisco A., Muniz, Mayco, Souza, Sebastião Rocha O., Silva, Natany Brunelli M., Silva, Ana Carolina Rios, Campos, Wellington Garcia
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.05.2024
Subjects
Bioassays
biological control
Cattle
Cercopidae
Cultivars
Endophytes
Entomopathogenic fungi
Foliar applications
Fungi
Hemiptera
Inoculation
Insects
Leaves
Livestock
Mahanarva spectabilis
Methods
Microorganisms
Pasture
Pastures
Pests
Plant resistance
Ribosomal DNA
RNA polymerase
Seed treatments
Seeds
Spraying
Surfactants
Urochloa brizantha
Brazil
United States > US
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Summary:Pests in pastures have compromised the production of biomass for feeding livestock herds. Many strategies have been applied to sustainably solve this problem. One viable and innovative technique is the delivery of entomopathogenic fungi through endophytes. Therefore, this study aimed to (i) evaluate the endophytic capacity of two entomopathogenic fungi, Fusarium multiceps UFMGCB 11443 and Metarhizium anisopliae UFMGCB 11444, in Urochloa brizantha [(Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf] (Poaceae) cultivar ‘Marundu’) via foliar inoculation or seed treatment, and (ii) measure their efficiency in controlling Mahanarva spectabilis Distant, 1909 (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) in U. brizantha. In the greenhouse, the fungi colonized the tissues of U. brizantha plants when inoculated via foliar spraying or seed treatment. The fungi F. multiceps and M. anisopliae caused 88% and 97.1% epizootic effects via seed inoculation, respectively, and 100% epizootic effects via foliar inoculation. In the field, the lowest fungal dose of 0.5 kg/ha had the same effect as a fourfold greater dose, with a >86% decrease in insect pest infestation observed. In summary, the fungi F. multiceps and M. anisopliae have endophytic effects and can effectively control M. spectabilis in U. brizantha pastures.
ISSN:2073-4395
2073-4395
DOI:10.3390/agronomy14050943