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The role of bacteria in the management of Chilo spp.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Michael Brownbridge
Affiliation:
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P. O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

Most field experiments in the microbial control of Chilo spp. have been performed using strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (B. t.). Generally, low levels of control were obtained, which is probably due to the relatively narrow host range of the B. t. strains used. B. t. formulations and different B. t. strains obtained from overseas culture collections or isolated from material collected in Kenya were screened for activity against C. partellus.

C. partellus was found to be susceptible to commercial preparations based on B. t. kurstaki only. The screening and bioassay work on identified B. t. strains showed differences in the toxicities of the various subspecies groups for C. partellus. There were also differences in the toxicity of isolates within the same subspecies. The most toxic exotic strain obtained was B. t. entomocidus. Excellent control of C. partellus larvae, on artificially infested plants, was obtained. Plant damage was significantly reduced and yield levels increased by 5 to 7 times over the untreated controls. Three strains, M-44–2, A-3, and A-C-2, gave the best levels of plant protection.

Different methods of applying the pathogen to the crop have also been investigated. Aqueous suspensions and a granule/powder formulation have given very good levels of borer control in screenhouse experiments.

Résumé

La plipart d'expérimentation de terrain pour le contrôle de Chilo spp. ont été effecteés avec Bacillus thuringiensis (B. t.). D'une manière générale, un faible niveau de contrôle a été obtenu. Ceci est probalement du à un relatif était spectre d'hôtes des souches de B. t. utlisées.

D'évaluer les formulations commerciales de B. t., les souches exotiques de B. t., ou celles isolées à partir de matériél collecté au Kenya.

C. partellus ne s'est montré sensible qu'aux préparations à la base de B. t. kurstaki. Le criblage des souches a montré des différences de toxicité de diverses sous-espèces à l'ègard de C. partellus. Il a été également observé des différences de toxicité entr les isolats de la même sous-espèce. La plus toxique des souches exotiques a été B. t. entomocidus.

Huit isolats ont été testés à la serre assurant ainsi un bon contrôle des larves de C. partellus apres infestation artificielle des plantes. Les dégâts sur les plantes ont été significativement réduits, et la production en graines a augmenté de 5 à 7 fois de plus par rapport aux témoins non traités. Trois souches, M-44–2, A-3, et A-C-2 ont assuré une bonne protection des plantes.

Différentes méthodes d'application du pathogène ont également été étudiées. La suspension aqueuse et la formulation granule/poudre ont assuré un bon niveau de contrôle du foreur dans les expérimentations sous serre.

Type
Biological Control
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1990

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