[en] Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are promising eco-friendly alternatives to chemical insecticides against various insect pests. We assessed the efficacy of different Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. strains against Brevicoryne brassicae (L.), a major pest of Brassica crops under both laboratory and field conditions. The virulence and endophytic properties of three strains of B. bassiana, the commercial strain GHA, the endemic one KA14 from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and GxABT-1 from Belgium, were assessed under laboratory conditions. Under field conditions in eastern DRC, the efficacy of the B. bassiana GHA was evaluated compared to that of a conventional insecticide. In vitro, the lethal time 50 (LT50) values ranged from 3 days for B. bassiana GxABT-1 to 4 days for both GHA and KA14 following direct application of fungi. Aphid exposure to fungus-treated leaves at 7 and 14 days after inoculation (DAI) resulted in LT50 values of 4 to 5 days for GHA and KA14. Regarding the endophytic potential, B. bassiana KA14 showed higher performance in colonizing plant tissues and improving plant height growth. In the dual-choice tests, aphids were initially attracted to fungus-treated plants at 7 DAI but showed no preference between treated and control plants at 14 DAI. Field trials indicated no significant difference between fungal and chemical insecticide treatments, but both significantly reduced B. brassicae infestation compared to the Control. Our results support the interest of exploring the potential of the endemic B. bassiana KA14 strain against various insect pests and applying different methods.
Disciplines :
Agriculture & agronomy Entomology & pest control Microbiology
Author, co-author :
Niyibizi Gakuru, Patient ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre ; Regional Post-Graduate Training School On Integrated Management of Tropical Forests and Lands (ERAIFT), POBox 15373, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. patientgakuru@gmail.com ; Dept of Crop Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Univ of Goma, POBox 204, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. patientgakuru@gmail.com
Cokola Cuma, Marcellin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion durable des bio-agresseurs
Mate Mweru, Jean-Pierre; Regional Post-Graduate Training School On Integrated Management of Tropical Forests and Lands (ERAIFT), POBox 15373, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
Muhashy Habiyaremye, François; Dept of Crop Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Univ of Goma, POBox 204, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo
Caparros Megido, Rudy ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion durable des bio-agresseurs
Francis, Frédéric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion durable des bio-agresseurs
Ben Fekih, Ibtissem ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département GxABT > Gestion durable des bio-agresseurs
Language :
English
Title :
Dual Impact Assessments of Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) Against Brevicoryne brassicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae).
Publication date :
22 October 2025
Journal title :
Neotropical Entomology
ISSN :
1519-566X
eISSN :
1678-8052
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Netherlands
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