Control Potentials of Three Entomopathogenic Bacterial Isolates for the Carob Moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Pomegranates

Saqer S. Alotaibi, Hadeer Darwish, Sarah Alharthi, Akram Alghamdi, Ahmed Noureldeen, Ahmed M. Fallatah, András Fodor, Amal Al-Barty, Bander Albogami and Alaa Baazeem
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Saqer S. Alotaibi: Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Hadeer Darwish: Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Sarah Alharthi: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Akram Alghamdi: Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Noureldeen: Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed M. Fallatah: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
András Fodor: Department of Genetics, József Attila University of Szeged, Középfasor 52, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
Amal Al-Barty: Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Bander Albogami: Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Alaa Baazeem: Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is the primary pest of pomegranates in Saudi Arabia and is mostly controlled using broad-spectrum pesticides. Providing environmentally sound choices to limit reliance on chemical management is a major challenge in the control of E. ceratoniae and, as a consequence, in the protection of pomegranate crops from its invasion. Entomopathogenic bacteria (EPB) symbiotically associated with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are well-known biocontrol agents of soil-dwelling or aerial pests. The bacterium symbiont (EPB) is the real insect-killing biocontrol agent, while the nematode (EPN) serves as a vector. We wondered whether the EPB vector, which is extremely vulnerable to adverse environmental conditions, like drought, high temperatures, and repellent soil microorganisms, could be omitted. We intended to evaluate the biocontrol potential of directly applied EPB cells and cell-free culture media (CFCM) on the larval instar E. ceratoniae . Xenorhabdus budapestensis DSM 16342 (EMA), X. szentirmaii DSM 16338 (EMC), and Photorhabdus luminescens ssp. laumondi (TT01) strains were used. After three days of exposure, the cells of EMA, EMC, and TT01 strains resulted in 100%, 88%, and 79.3% larval mortality rates, respectively. The applied EMA CFCM resulted in 53.7% larval mortality, indicating the presences of (at least) one extremely strong component produced by EMA. We concluded that the direct application of either the EPB cells or the CFCM must be a prospective alternative biocontrol of E. ceratoniae , especially to protect the important fruit (pomegranate, Punica granatum ) cultivars. Especially, newly identified local EPB isolates could be applied as bio-pesticides for integrated management practices or organic pomegranate production.

Keywords: entomopathogenic bacteria; Ectomyelois ceratoniae; biological control; GC-MS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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