Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Isolation and Selection of Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soil Samples and Evaluation of Fungal Virulence against Insect Pests
09:42

Isolation and Selection of Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soil Samples and Evaluation of Fungal Virulence against Insect Pests

Published on: September 28, 2021

10.5K

High Virulence of Mexican Entomopathogenic Fungi Against Fall Armyworm, (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Ana Martha Cruz-Avalos1, María de Los Ángeles Bivián-Hernández1, Jorge E Ibarra2

  • 1Departamento de Alimentos, Posgrado en Biociencias, División de Ciencias de la Vida, Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Universidad de Guanajuato, Carretera Irapuato-León, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México.

Journal of Economic Entomology
|November 2, 2018
PubMed

Insights

This study identified potent entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana, for controlling fall armyworm. Strain Ma41 demonstrated the highest potential as a bioinsecticide, showing significant efficacy against eggs and larvae.

Area of Science:

  • Agricultural Entomology
  • Microbial Pest Control
  • Fungal Genetics

Background:

  • The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a major agricultural pest causing significant crop losses worldwide.
  • Biological control using entomopathogenic fungi offers an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides.
  • Effective microbial control agents require rigorous isolation, identification, and virulence assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To isolate and identify entomopathogenic fungi from soil and infected fall armyworm larvae in Guanajuato, Mexico.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of selected fungal isolates against fall armyworm eggs and neonate larvae.
  • To assess the potential of these fungal strains for development into bioinsecticides.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of fungal strains from soil and infected larvae.
  • Identification using morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) sequencing.
  • Qualitative and quantitative bioassays to determine egg and larval mortality rates.
  • Estimation of lethal concentrations (LC50) and detection of virulence genes.

Main Results:

  • Fourteen entomopathogenic fungal strains were identified, including Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, and Nomuraea rileyi.
  • Strains Ma22, Ma41, and Mr8 (M. anisopliae) achieved 100% egg mortality at a concentration of 1 × 10^8 conidia/ml.
  • Strains Ma41, Bb9, Ma22, and Mr8 exhibited high virulence against neonate larvae, with LC50 values ranging from 2.8 × 10^5 to 3.6 × 10^6 conidia/ml.
  • Strain Ma41 showed the highest potential for bioinsecticide development due to its potent efficacy against fall armyworm stages.

Conclusions:

  • Entomopathogenic fungi, particularly Metarhizium anisopliae strains Ma41, Ma22, and Mr8, are effective against the fall armyworm.
  • Strain Ma41 exhibits promising characteristics for development into a novel bioinsecticide.
  • Further research into virulence factors and field application is warranted.

More Related Videos

Comparison of Methods for Isolating Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soil Samples07:16

Comparison of Methods for Isolating Entomopathogenic Fungi from Soil Samples

Published on: January 6, 2022

5.3K
Hyperactive piggyBac Transposase-mediated Germline Transformation in the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda05:20

Hyperactive piggyBac Transposase-mediated Germline Transformation in the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

Published on: September 23, 2021

4.9K

Related Concept Videos

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition02:11

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
47.3K
Free-falling Bodies: Example01:05

Free-falling Bodies: Example

An object falling without any air resistance under the influence of gravitational force is said to be in free-fall. For free-falling bodies, the acceleration due to gravity is constant, irrespective of their mass. Free-fall is experienced not only by objects falling downward, but also by all objects whose motion is influenced by gravitational force alone. The dynamics of free-fall motion can be calculated using kinematic equations of motion, since free-fall acceleration is constant.
The...
31.7K
Free-falling Bodies: Introduction01:07

Free-falling Bodies: Introduction

All objects, neglecting air resistance, fall with the same acceleration towards the Earth's center due to the force exerted by the Earth's gravity. This experimentally determined fact is unexpected because we are so accustomed to the effects of air resistance and friction that we expect light objects to fall slower than heavier ones. People believed that a heavier object had a greater acceleration when falling until Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) proved otherwise. We now know this is...
11.9K
Overview of Fungi01:29

Overview of Fungi

Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotes more closely related to animals than other eukaryotes. Fungal cell walls comprise chitin, a polysaccharide that provides structural strength, and glucans, which contribute to flexibility and integrity. Other polysaccharides, such as mannans and galactosans, may supplement or replace chitin in some fungi. These adaptations, along with their preference for acidic environments and tolerance for high osmotic pressure, enable fungi to thrive in various...
1.8K
The Colonization of Land02:22

The Colonization of Land

Changes in the environment of the early Earth drove the evolution of organisms. As prokaryotic organisms in the oceans began to photosynthesize, they produced oxygen. Eventually, oxygen saturated the oceans and entered the air, resulting in an increase in atmospheric oxygen concentration, known as the oxygen revolution approximately 2.3 billion years ago. Therefore, organisms that could use oxygen for cellular respiration had an advantage. More than 1.5 years ago, eukaryotic cells and...
37.7K
Bioremediation00:46

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
22.3K