A Mycoinsecticide from Metarhizium Anisopliae (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) Based on a Solid-State Fermentation Method against Some Aphid Species in Turkiye

Abstract

Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that are common pests of all indoor and outdoor field crops, vegetables, fruit trees, and ornamental plants. A local Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) strain (KTU-51) is highly virulent for many different insect species evaluated. The research aims to propose a new efficient prototype mycoinsecticide based on Metarhizium anisopliae (KTU-51) against several aphid species (Hemiptera: Aphididae; Myzus persicae Sulz., Aphis fabae Scop., Brevicoryne brassicae L. and Macrosiphum rosae L.), which are the most important agricultural pests. M. anisopliae produced spores in large quantities utilizing solid-state fermentation (SSF) with rice as a substrate. An oil-based mycoinsecticide, AFIDISIDAL-OD Met-TR61 was improved by incorporating spores harvested from the sporulated biomass. The product had a more lethal effect than commercial products against all aphid species under laboratory conditions. Met-TR61 with 10(8) spores/ml concentration yielded 78.3% mortality in the leaf disc experiment and 79% in the pot experiment on Myzus persicae. Other aphids were also found to be extremely sensitive to the product. In this particular study, an oil-based mycoinsecticide was developed and its efficacy for biological control of aphid species was assessed. The study's findings indicate that the mycoinsecticide has the potential to be a workable and effective alternative to conventional chemical insecticides for controlling aphid populations.