Endophytic Development of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana Reduced the Development of Galls and Adult Emergence of Leptocybe invasa in Susceptible Eucalyptus

Thomas Vieira Nunes, Jovielly Neves Rodrigues, Ismael O. Pinto, Raphael S. Pimenta, Maíra Ignacio Sarmento, Ricardo S. Silva, Philipe G. C. Souza, Danival J. de Souza, Louis A. Joseph, Maria L. de O. Souza and Renato A. Sarmento ()
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Thomas Vieira Nunes: Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology—Rede Bionorte, Universidade Federal do Tocantins—UFT, Campus Palmas, Palmas 77001-090, Brazil
Jovielly Neves Rodrigues: Graduate Program in Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Universidade Federal do Tocantins—UFT, Campus Gurupi, Gurupi 77402-970, Brazil
Ismael O. Pinto: Setor de Agricultura, Instituto Federal do Tocantins (IFTO), Campus Avançado Formoso do Araguaia, Formoso do Araguaia 77470-000, Brazil
Raphael S. Pimenta: Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology—Rede Bionorte, Universidade Federal do Tocantins—UFT, Campus Palmas, Palmas 77001-090, Brazil
Maíra Ignacio Sarmento: Graduate Program in Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Universidade Federal do Tocantins—UFT, Campus Gurupi, Gurupi 77402-970, Brazil
Ricardo S. Silva: Graduate Program in Plant Production, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri—UFVJM, Diamantina 39100-000, Brazil
Philipe G. C. Souza: Graduate Program in Plant Production, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri—UFVJM, Diamantina 39100-000, Brazil
Danival J. de Souza: Graduate Program in Plant Production, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Gurupi, Gurupi 77402-970, Brazil
Louis A. Joseph: Graduate Program in Plant Production, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Gurupi, Gurupi 77402-970, Brazil
Maria L. de O. Souza: Instituto Federal do Tocantins—IFTO, Campus Palmas, Palmas 77021-090, Brazil
Renato A. Sarmento: Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology—Rede Bionorte, Universidade Federal do Tocantins—UFT, Campus Palmas, Palmas 77001-090, Brazil

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: Eucalyptus cultivation in arid regions is limited by the losses caused by the galling wasp, Leptocybe invasa Fisher and La Salle, 2004 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae); it oviposits below the epidermis of the central veins, mainly on seedlings in nurseries and/or young plants in the field, causing galls where the insects develop. Galls modify the normal circulation of sap in vascular tissues, ultimately affecting the development of infested plants and resulting in slower growth. Eucalyptus genotypes tolerant to water stress are susceptible to L. invasa , and this pest has no effective control methods. Here, we aimed to (i) determine the initial infestation dynamics of L. invasa in Eucalyptus plants inoculated with Beauveria bassiana and (ii) identify any change in the development of galls. B. bassiana -inoculated seedlings were infested with L. invasa . Susceptible plants were unaffected, and gall development was negatively affected at multiple stages. A fungal solution containing B. bassiana reduced gall development and the emergence of L. invasa adults in eucalyptus plants at considerable rates. The total number of adult emergence holes was 89.74% fewer for inoculated plants when compared to uninoculated plants. These results can help develop B. bassiana products to control L. invasa in susceptible eucalyptus plants for improved, sustainable forestry.

Keywords: gall wasp; biological control; fungus; entomopathogen (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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