Biocontrol of Bean and Wheat Aphids by Fungi Isolated from Indigenous and Invasive Insects Collected from Different Locations in Minia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

A total of 26 fungal strains were isolated from aphids and tomato leaf miner as indigenous species and from red palm weevil and peach fruit fly as an invasive insect. Fungal strains tested for their abilities to attack both bean and wheat aphids. The mortality of aphids due to thesefungi was estimated. Results showed that eight entomopathogenic fungi Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Verticillium sp., Fusarium chlamydosporum, Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium semitectum, Pochonia chlamydosporia var. catenulata, Fusarium solaniand Fusarium verticillioides exhibited high virulence 60-100%. However, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Verticillium sp., Fusarium chlamydosporum and Fusarium solani proved to be the most virulent species against the target aphids inducing 90%-100% mortality.