Formulations of Beauveria bassiana MABb1 and mesoporous materials for the biological control of Sphenarium purpurascens in maize crops from Puebla, Mexico

• Published in: Journal of Asia-Pacific entomology Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 653 - 659
• Main Authors: Romero-Arenas, Omar, Amaro-Leal, Luis Josué, Rivera, Antonio, Parraguirre-Lezama, Conrado, Sánchez-Morales, Primo, Villa-Ruano, Nemesio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2020; 한국응용곤충학회
• Subjects: Beauveria bassiana; Crop improvement; Mortality; Sphenarium purpurascens; 농학; Beauveria bassiana; Sphenarium purpurascens; Crop improvement; Mortality
• ISSN: 1226-8615; 1876-7990
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aspen.2020.05.005

[Display omitted] •A native strain of Beauveria bassiana was evaluated against Sphenarium purpurascens.•In vitro and in situ assessment produced a significant mortality rate in the grasshopper.•The yields of experimental maize plots showed a significant improvement after B. bassiana treatment. This investigation reports on the biological control of Sphenarium purpurascens by using different concentrations of conidia from a native strain of Beauveria bassiana (MABb1) isolated in Puebla, Mexico under laboratory and in situ conditions. Formulations containing this native strain combined with two mesoporous materials (diatomaceous earth “D” and zeolite “Z”) were assayed in order to determine their effect on the mortality of the grasshopper. Concentrations of 3.67 × 108 to 10.30 × 108 conidia mL−1 caused a substantial mortality rate in the fourth-instar nymphs and adults of S. purpurascens. The observed mortality was directly proportional to the concentration of conidia. Under controlled conditions, the highest specific death rate K(d−1) was 0.78 for the formulation containing Z + D + MABb1 at 72 h post-infection. The formulations of D + MABb1 and Z + D + MABb1 caused a noticeable decrease in the population of grasshoppers in the experimental plots with statistical significant differences (α < 0.05). Interestingly, an increase in the mortality of S purpurascens occurred in July, August and September 2017 when the highest incidence of the grasshopper was recorded. Remarkably, the treatment based on Z + D + MABb1, produced an improvement in the yields of experimental maize plots (7847.4 ± 0.70 Kg ha−1) in comparison to control plots (4453.9 ± 0.50 Kg ha−1). These favorable consequences are reported for the first time in corn crops from Mexico.