Entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (strain NCAIM 362) effects on soil inhabiting Melolontha melolontha (Coleoptera) and Duponchelia fovealis (Lepidoptera) larvae in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

Abstract

The functional role of the insect pathogen fungus Metarhizium anisopliae strain NCAIM 362 against the whi-te grub cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) larvae and southern European marshland pyralid (Duponchelia fovealis) larvae in a sweet potato cultivation was tested under greenhouse conditions. As a positive control, the effect of the same strain of M. anisopliae were compared with the effect of the synthetic insecticide alpha-cypermethrin. According to the results, alpha-cypermethrin was more effective against both the Coleoptera and Lepidoptera larvae, a lower number of surviving individuals as well as less damaged tubers were detected after the chemical treatment, compared with M. anisopliae.