BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF SELECTED STRAINS OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI BEAUVERIA BASSIANA AGAINST LARVAE OF WAX MOTH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52578/2305-9397-2025-4-2-72-80%20Ключевые слова:
entomopathogenic fungi; virulence; Beauveria bassiana; strain; Galleria mellonella L.; wax moth; biological activity.Аннотация
The study presents the results of a primary screening of the wax moth (Galleria mellonella L.) larvae for susceptibility to the virulence of 10 isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana, obtained from different taxonomic groups of insects. The experiments revealed that five isolates – BCa3(m)-09, BCa2(m)-09, BSc1-15, BPit-16, and BHy-09 – demonstrated high virulence against wax moth larvae. Their effectiveness ranged between 50-70% at a concentration of 5×10⁷ spores and 36–52% at a concentration of 5×10⁶ spores, with the most virulent isolate, BCa3(m)-09, causing 70.0±12.65% mortality.
Moderate virulence (34-48%) was observed for isolates BCo1-14, BSc2-15, and BScar-09, while BTr1-16 and BCo2(k)-09 showed weak activity (32-38%). Overall, larval mortality exceeded 50%, which is considered a promising outcome. Comparative analysis indicated that isolates originating from steppe zones exhibited approximately 6% higher virulence compared to those from mountainous regions.
To confirm the cause of mortality, all dead larvae were placed in a moist chamber. After three days, their bodies were covered with a mycelia layer, verifying death caused by the fungal pathogen. In addition, the larvae exposed to the mycoinsecticide showed noticeable darkening and hardening of the body tissues.
Based on these findings, the isolates BCa3(m)-09, BCa2(m)-09, BSc1-15, BPit-16, and BHy-09 can be recommended for biological control of wax moth larvae. Furthermore, these fungal strains hold potential for application against a wider range of agricultural insect pests and certain arthropods, although the susceptibility of specific pest species to individual isolates must be taken into account.
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