Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control | 2021
Potential of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. in controlling live-wood eating termite, Microtermes obesi (Holmgren) (Blattodea: Termitidae) infesting tea crop
Abstract
Background In recent years, Microtermes obesi (Holmgren) (Blattodea: Termitidae) has been recorded as a major pest of tea crop, causes significant losses in production. Managing termite pests in tea crops through an integrated approach has been suggested, and the use of microbial biocontrol agent is one of the economical methods. The present study evaluated the pathogenic efficacy of an entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. ( =\u2009 M. anisopliae) against M. obesi damaging tea plants under field conditions. Results Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. was formulated as 5% aqueous suspension (AS). Large-scale field trials with formulated entomopathogen revealed that 1000 and 1200\xa0ml concentrations of M. anisopliae s.l. 5%AS (each concentration containing 2\u2009×\u200910 7 conidia/ml) each in 400\xa0l of water/ha significantly ( P \u2009<\u20090.05) reduced the population of M. obesi in tea gardens at Dooars and Darjeeling regions, India. In the field study, M. anisopliae s.l. was more effective than the standard insecticide and was non-pathogenic on the beneficial insects present in the tea gardens. In addition, M. anisopliae s.l. 5%AS had no phytotoxic effect on the tea leaves, with acceptable organoleptic attributes. Conclusion Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. isolate can be commercialized as an alternative natural termiticide to reduce the load of synthetic insecticides in the tea crop.