Sains Malaysiana 52(2)(2023): 467-476

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2023-5202-11

Effect of Temperature on Germination, Radial Growth, and Sporulation of the New Isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae and Their Virulence to Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

(Kesan Suhu terhadap Percambahan, Pertumbuhan Jejari dan Pensporaan Pencilan Baharu Metarhizium anisopliae dan Kevirulen terhadap Lalat Putih, Bemisia tabaci(Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae))

IBRAHIM SANI^1,2, SYARI JAMIAN^1,3, SITI IZERA ISMAIL^1,3, NORSAZILAWATI SAAD¹, SUMAIYAH ABDULLAH^1, ERNEEZA MOHD HATA⁴ & JOHARI JALINAS^5,*

¹Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, P.M.B., Katsina 2218, Nigeria

³Laboratory of Climate-Smart Food Crop Production, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁴Laboratory of Sustainable Agronomy & Crop Protection, Institute of Plantation Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁵Laboratory of Applied Entomology, Centre for Insect Systematics, Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science & Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 26 April 2022/Accepted: 22 December 2022

Abstract

Metarhizium anisopliae is a potential entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) to control insect pests in Malaysia, yet little is known about the temperature influence on its growth and efficacy. The average daily temperature in Malaysia is between 21 °C and 32 °C, with some parts of Cameron Highland in Peninsular Malaysia experiencing temperatures as low as 14 °C. Therefore, for effective field application, the most effective EPF isolates should be tolerant to the temperature of the country. Here we conducted a laboratory experiment to determine the effects of average daily temperatures in Malaysia (15, 20, 25, and 30 °C) on conidial germination, radial growth, and conidial density of seven new isolates of M. anisopliae. However, at 25 and 30°C, the three isolates (Ma-2, Ma-9, and Ma-15) produced the highest number of conidia and were therefore selected for virulence test against the second instar of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. The percentage mortality of the three isolates ranged between 36.1% and 97.7% across different temperatures for 7 days post-treatment. The isolates Ma-15 caused the highest percentage mortality of 97.7% and the shortest LT₅₀ and LT₉₀ values (1.68 and 3.98 days, respectively), at 30 °C incubation temperature. This study confirms that the growth and virulence of Malaysian isolates of M. anisopliae are strongly influenced by temperature and could be used as promising candidates for biocontrol of B. tabaci on vegetables planted in a tropical climate such as that of low land and highland in Malaysia, although extensive field and semi-field bioassays, as well as the development of ideal formulation, are still required.

Keywords: Bemisia tabaci; entomopathogenic fungui; Metarhizium anisopliae; percentage mortality; temperature

Abstrak

Metarhizium anisopliae merupakan kulat entomopatogen (EPF) yang berpotensi untuk mengawal perosak serangga di Malaysia. Namun, pertumbuhan EPF bergantung pada suhu. Purata suhu harian di Malaysia adalah antara 21 °C dan 32 °C, dengan beberapa bahagian Tanah Tinggi Cameron di Semenanjung Malaysia mengalami suhu serendah 14 °C. Oleh itu, untuk aplikasi lapangan yang berkesan dan pencilan EPF yang paling berkesan ialah suhu setempat. Di sini, kami menjalankan uji kaji makmal untuk menentukan kesan purata suhu harian di Malaysia (15, 20, 25 dan 30 °C) terhadap percambahan konidium, pertumbuhan jejari dan ketumpatan konidium bagi tujuh pencilan baharu M. anisopliae. Walau bagaimanapun, pada suhu 25 dan 30 °C, ketiga-tiga pencilan (Ma-2, Ma-9, dan Ma-15) menghasilkan bilangan konidia tertinggi dan oleh itu dipilih untuk ujian virulen terhadap instar kedua bagi lalat putih, Bemisia tabaci. Peratusan kematian ketiga-tiga pencilan adalah antara 36.1% dan 97.7% merentasi suhu berbeza selama 7 hari selepas rawatan. Pencilan Ma-15 menyebabkan peratusan kematian tertinggi iaitu 97.7% dan nilai LT₅₀ dan LT₉₀ terendah (masing-masing 1.68 dan 3.98 hari) pada suhu inkubasi 30 °C. Kajian ini mengesahkan bahawa pertumbuhan dan virulen pencilan M. anisopliae Malaysia sangat dipengaruhi oleh suhu dan boleh digunakan sebagai kawalan biologi yang berpotensi terhadap B. tabaci pada sayur-sayuran yang ditanam di iklim tropika seperti tanah rendah dan tanah tinggi di Malaysia, namun begitu, ujian lapangan dan semi-bioasai, serta pembangunan formulasi yang ideal masih diperlukan.

Kata kunci: Bemisia tabaci; kulat entomopatogen; Metarhizium anisopliae; peratusan kematian; suhu

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^*Corresponding author: email: johari_j@ukm.edu.my