Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi Against <i>Bruchus rufimanus</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Laboratory and Field Trials Using Dropleg Spraying Technique
Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF)-based biopesticides have attracted growing interest in pest management as alternatives to neurotoxic insecticides. Their potential was evaluated against various pests, including the broad bean weevil (<i>Bruchus rufimanus Boheman 1833</i>), a significant thre...
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2025-02-01
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| author | Adrien Rodrigue Lugendo Ibtissem Ben Fekih Rudy Caparros Megido Jérôme Pierreux Frédéric Francis Arnaud Segers |
| author_facet | Adrien Rodrigue Lugendo Ibtissem Ben Fekih Rudy Caparros Megido Jérôme Pierreux Frédéric Francis Arnaud Segers |
| author_sort | Adrien Rodrigue Lugendo |
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| description | Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF)-based biopesticides have attracted growing interest in pest management as alternatives to neurotoxic insecticides. Their potential was evaluated against various pests, including the broad bean weevil (<i>Bruchus rufimanus Boheman 1833</i>), a significant threat to faba bean (<i>Vicia faba</i> L.) crops. This study examined the entomotoxic effects and sublethal impacts (on oviposition) of three fungal strains under laboratory conditions: <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> (GHA), <i>Metarhizium brunneum</i> (USDA 4556), and <i>M. brunneum</i> (V275) on <i>B. rufimanus</i> adults. Subsequently, a large-scale field trial assessed the efficacy of <i>B. bassiana</i> (GHA) against <i>B. rufimanus</i> infestations using conventional anti-drift and dropleg spraying methods. The laboratory LT<sub>50</sub> values ranged from four days for <i>B. bassiana</i> to eight days for <i>M. brunneum</i> (V275). The mortality rates recorded after ten days ranged from 86.6% for <i>M. brunneum</i> (V275) to 96.6% for <i>B. bassiana</i> (GHA). The inhibition of oviposition rates ranged from 12% for <i>M. brunneum</i> (USDA 4556) to 36% for <i>B. bassiana</i> (GHA). Field trials showed that the dropleg nozzles targeted faba bean pods, the oviposition sites of <i>B. rufimanus</i>, more effectively than the anti-drift nozzles. However, both fungal and chemical treatments applied via dropleg nozzles offered limited protection, reducing the infestation rates by 7% and 14%, respectively, with only a 3% improvement over anti-drift nozzles. This suggests that the large-scale spraying of chemical or fungal agents, including <i>B. bassiana</i> GHA, is not an optimal IPM strategy for managing <i>B. rufimanus</i> in faba beans. These laboratory and field results highlight the potential of EPF for managing <i>B. rufimanus</i>. However, the limitations of spray-applied plant protection methods underscore the need to redirect research toward more targeted strategies, such as attract-and-infect or endophytic EPF approaches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-526a4f7ca2b44ba9a26776a77882c129 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj-art-526a4f7ca2b44ba9a26776a77882c1292025-08-20T02:44:50ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-02-0115437610.3390/agriculture15040376Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi Against <i>Bruchus rufimanus</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Laboratory and Field Trials Using Dropleg Spraying TechniqueAdrien Rodrigue Lugendo0Ibtissem Ben Fekih1Rudy Caparros Megido2Jérôme Pierreux3Frédéric Francis4Arnaud Segers5Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, University of Liège—Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Passage des Déportés, 2, 5030 Gembloux, BelgiumFunctional and Evolutionary Entomology, University of Liège—Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Passage des Déportés, 2, 5030 Gembloux, BelgiumFunctional and Evolutionary Entomology, University of Liège—Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Passage des Déportés, 2, 5030 Gembloux, BelgiumFunctional and Evolutionary Entomology, University of Liège—Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Passage des Déportés, 2, 5030 Gembloux, BelgiumFunctional and Evolutionary Entomology, University of Liège—Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Passage des Déportés, 2, 5030 Gembloux, BelgiumFunctional and Evolutionary Entomology, University of Liège—Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Passage des Déportés, 2, 5030 Gembloux, BelgiumEntomopathogenic fungi (EPF)-based biopesticides have attracted growing interest in pest management as alternatives to neurotoxic insecticides. Their potential was evaluated against various pests, including the broad bean weevil (<i>Bruchus rufimanus Boheman 1833</i>), a significant threat to faba bean (<i>Vicia faba</i> L.) crops. This study examined the entomotoxic effects and sublethal impacts (on oviposition) of three fungal strains under laboratory conditions: <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> (GHA), <i>Metarhizium brunneum</i> (USDA 4556), and <i>M. brunneum</i> (V275) on <i>B. rufimanus</i> adults. Subsequently, a large-scale field trial assessed the efficacy of <i>B. bassiana</i> (GHA) against <i>B. rufimanus</i> infestations using conventional anti-drift and dropleg spraying methods. The laboratory LT<sub>50</sub> values ranged from four days for <i>B. bassiana</i> to eight days for <i>M. brunneum</i> (V275). The mortality rates recorded after ten days ranged from 86.6% for <i>M. brunneum</i> (V275) to 96.6% for <i>B. bassiana</i> (GHA). The inhibition of oviposition rates ranged from 12% for <i>M. brunneum</i> (USDA 4556) to 36% for <i>B. bassiana</i> (GHA). Field trials showed that the dropleg nozzles targeted faba bean pods, the oviposition sites of <i>B. rufimanus</i>, more effectively than the anti-drift nozzles. However, both fungal and chemical treatments applied via dropleg nozzles offered limited protection, reducing the infestation rates by 7% and 14%, respectively, with only a 3% improvement over anti-drift nozzles. This suggests that the large-scale spraying of chemical or fungal agents, including <i>B. bassiana</i> GHA, is not an optimal IPM strategy for managing <i>B. rufimanus</i> in faba beans. These laboratory and field results highlight the potential of EPF for managing <i>B. rufimanus</i>. However, the limitations of spray-applied plant protection methods underscore the need to redirect research toward more targeted strategies, such as attract-and-infect or endophytic EPF approaches.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/4/376<i>Vicia faba</i>faba beanbiopesticidemicrobial control<i>Beauveria bassiana</i><i>Metarhizium brunneum</i> |
| spellingShingle | Adrien Rodrigue Lugendo Ibtissem Ben Fekih Rudy Caparros Megido Jérôme Pierreux Frédéric Francis Arnaud Segers Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi Against <i>Bruchus rufimanus</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Laboratory and Field Trials Using Dropleg Spraying Technique Agriculture <i>Vicia faba</i> faba bean biopesticide microbial control <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> <i>Metarhizium brunneum</i> |
| title | Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi Against <i>Bruchus rufimanus</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Laboratory and Field Trials Using Dropleg Spraying Technique |
| title_full | Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi Against <i>Bruchus rufimanus</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Laboratory and Field Trials Using Dropleg Spraying Technique |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi Against <i>Bruchus rufimanus</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Laboratory and Field Trials Using Dropleg Spraying Technique |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi Against <i>Bruchus rufimanus</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Laboratory and Field Trials Using Dropleg Spraying Technique |
| title_short | Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi Against <i>Bruchus rufimanus</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Laboratory and Field Trials Using Dropleg Spraying Technique |
| title_sort | efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi against i bruchus rufimanus i coleoptera chrysomelidae in laboratory and field trials using dropleg spraying technique |
| topic | <i>Vicia faba</i> faba bean biopesticide microbial control <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> <i>Metarhizium brunneum</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/4/376 |
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