Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae against hornworm (Hippotion celerio) and cutworm (Spodoptera litura) on taro

Issue Date

10-2015

Abstract

Taro, Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, is primarily grown as root and leafy vegetable. Taro production is constrained by the attack of hornworm (Hippotion celerio) and cutworm (Spodoptera litura). Metarhizium anisopliae can be an alternative control for these insects. This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of M. anisopliae to control taro hornworm and cutworm and to determine M. anisopliae concentration which can effectively control the worms. In laboratory bioassay and field experiment, five treatments, replicated five times, were set up following CRD. The treatments were: T1-uninoculated, T2-insecticide, T3-500 ml M. anisopliae in 1500 ml water, T4-1000 ml M. anisopliae in 1500 ml water, T5-1500 ml M. anisopliae in 1500 ml water. One hornworm and one cutworm at third larval instar were kept individually in plastic cups and applied with the treatments. The same number and larval stage were introduced in three-leaf Tinahig Variety. Five ml of the treatments were sprayed on every plant with hornworms and cutworms. The insecticide treated worms died at eight to 10 hours after application. Mycelial growths were highest in hornworms treated with 1500 ml M. anisopliae. However, they were not significantly different from other concentrations of M. anisopliae. Mycelial growths in cutworms caused by 1500 ml M. anisopliae. In the field, infection rate caused by 500 ml M. anisopliae in hornworms and cutworms differed significantly from 1000 ml and 1500 ml M. anisopliae. Four days after inoculation, increment increase of leaf injury caused by the uninoculated and inoculated cutworms differed significantly, but not among the inoculated worms.

Source or Periodical Title

The Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

29

Issue

2

Page

232

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

SPODOPTERA LITURA; METARHIZIUM ANISOPLIAE; COLOCASIA ESCULENTA; TARO; PESTS OF PLANTS; PEST CONTROL; INOCULATION; INSECTICIDES

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