Potential of a strain of Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) for the control of the potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)

ABSTRACT

The potato tuberworm, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is one of the most important pests of potato, Solanum tuberosum L., worldwide. We evaluated six Beauveria bassiana strains with potential for control of larvae. Strain SD was the most virulent, causing up to 98% mortality 10 days after inoculation of first instars. The other tested strains (HL, XJ, SC, JL and GZ) were only marginally virulent compared to the controls. In cage trials, SD strain applied to potato plants significantly reduced the survival of tuberworm larvae. Our results suggest that strain SD may be recommended for effective biological control of P. operculella.

KEYWORDS:

• Beauveria bassiana
• Phthorimaea operculella
• potato
• integrated biological pest control

Acknowledgments

This research project was supported by the China Agriculture Research System (CARS-25-B-07). We are grateful to Drs. Barbara Barratt (IOBC Global), Si Hyeock Lee (Seoul National University), Roy Van Driesche (University of Massachusetts) and Mark S. Goettel (Agri-Food Canada Research Centre) for helpful comments on a previous version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

China Agriculture Research System [grant number CARS-25-B-07].