AUTHOR=Wu Jianhui , Yu Xintong , Wang Xiaoshuang , Tang Liangde , Ali Shaukat 

TITLE=Matrine Enhances the Pathogenicity of Beauveria brongniartii Against Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01812

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2019.01812

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>The repetitive application of pesticides at high doses against <italic>Spodoptera litura</italic> Fabricius has resulted in development of pesticide resistance and harmful effects to the natural environmental. Hence, finding alternate pest control strategies, such as entomopathogenic fungi or their application in combination with other natural chemicals, is of great importance to solve the abovementioned problems. This study presents the toxic effects of <italic>Beauveria brongniartii</italic> and matrine (individual or in combination with each other) against tobacco cutworm (<italic>S. litura</italic>). Different matrine treatments caused a dose dependent increase in <italic>S. litura</italic> mortality at different time intervals. The biological parameters of <italic>B. brongniartii</italic> (germination rate and average daily mycelia growth) were not inhibited by different matrine treatments. Different conidial concentrations of <italic>B. brongniartii</italic> caused significantly different mortalities of 2nd instar <italic>S. litura</italic> larvae at different time intervals. Different combined treatments of <italic>B. brongniartii</italic> and matrine showed a significant synergistic effect against <italic>S. litura</italic> under laboratory and semi-field conditions. The current findings showed a strong synergistic action for combined application of <italic>B. brongniartii</italic> and matrine against <italic>S. litura.</italic> Our results will provide baseline information on combined application of entomopathogenic fungi and natural chemicals in integrated pest management programs against <italic>S. litura</italic>.</p>