EVALUATION ON THE POTENTIAL OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGAL ISOLATES FOR THE CONTROL OF MEXICAN BEAN BRUCHID (ZABROTES SUBFASCIATUS) (COLEOPTERA: BRUCHIDAE)

The efficacy of five isolates of entomopathogenic fungi belonging to the genus Metarhizium was assessed against Mexican bean bruchid, Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in a laboratory experiment. Four local isolates namely META-B, META-D, PPRC-6, PPRC-29 and one standard isolate ICIPE-30 were evaluated. Pathogenicity of the isolates was conducted with three different conidia concentrations including 10 6 , 10 7 and 10 8 conidia/ml. The adults of Mexican bean bruchid were treated by spraying one ml of fungal concentrations ranging from 1x10 6 to 1x10 8 . All the isolates tested were virulent at all concentrations ranging from 1x10 6 to 1x10 8 conidia/ml. However, pathogenicity (based on speed and magnitude of mortality) varied among isolates and concentration. Among the M. anisopliae isolates, ICIPE-30 and META-D were most pathogenic. A significant difference (p<0.05) in mortality was recorded between treatments of fungal concentrations and the control. None of the control treatment units gave more than 15% mortality. All tested isolates were able to infect and cause mycosis in adult Mexican bean bruchid, out of which isolate META-B showed the least virulence compared to others with less than 67.5% mortality with confirmed symptom of mycosis. The study suggests that entomopathogenic fungi may be used as a component of IPM in stored beans under Ethiopian conditions. Key words/phrases : Entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium , Mexican bean bruchid, Mycosis, Pathogenicity, Zabrotes subfasciatus .