Compatibility of Metarhizium anisopliae with Calpurnia aurea leaf extracts and virulence against Rhipicephalus pulchellus

Leaf extracts of Capurnia aurea (Fabaceae) have been reported to attract ticks and can be considered for use in combination with entomopathogenic fungus in an autodissemination approach, whereby ticks that are attracted to baited traps are infected with the inoculum. Bioassays were undertaken to assess the compatibility of aqueous, methanol and acetone extracts of C. aurea with conidia of Metarhizium anisopliae sensu stricto (ss) (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) isolate ICIPE 7 in terms of mycelial growth, conidial production and spore viability. Aqueous extract of C. aurea was compatible with the fungus at all the concentrations tested whereas methanol and acetone extracts inhibited all the fungal growth parameters. The virulence of M. anisopliae formulated in different extracts of C. aurea was also tested against different developmental stages of Rhipicephalus pulchellus in laboratory bioassays. No significant differences in virulence were observed between M. anisopliae applied alone and M. anisopliae formulated in different concentrations of extracts of C. aurea among the larvae, nymphs and adults. However, mortality varied according to the developmental stage, with larval stage being the most susceptible. Aqueous extract was compatible with M. anisopliae and could be therefore mixed together for ‘spot-spray’ treatments as low cost and environmentally friendly technology for tick control in grazing pasture

Biopesticide based sustainable pest management for safer production of vegetable legumes and brassicas in Asia and Africa

Published online: 10 May 2019Vegetables are one of the important crops which could alleviate the poverty and malnutrition among the smallholder farmers in tropical Asia and Africa. However, a plethora of pests limit the productivity of these crops, leading to economic losses. Vegetable producers overwhelmingly rely on chemical pesticides in order to reduce pest‐caused economic losses. However, over‐reliance on chemical pesticides poses serious threats to human and environmental health. Hence, biopesticides offer a viable alternative to chemical pesticides in sustainable pest management programs. Baculoviruses such as nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) and granulovirus (GV) have been exploited as successful biological pesticides in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Maruca vitrata multiple nucleocapsid NPV (MaviMNPV) was found to be a unique baculovirus specifically infecting pod borer on food legumes, and it has been successfully developed as a biopesticide in Asia and Africa. Entomopathogenic fungi also offer sustainable pest management options. Several strains of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana have been tested and developed as biopesticides in Asia and Africa. This review specifically focuses on the discovery and development of entomopathogenic virus and fungi‐based biopesticides against major pests of vegetable legumes and brassicas in Asia and Africa