Entomopathogenic fungi are feasible and effective against the agricultural pest. In the current research we investigated the bioactive comparison of two widely accepted entmopathogens (Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. and Metarhizium anisopliae, (basionym)) against the Spodoptera litura (Fab.) through the assessment of larval tolerance and regulation of antioxidants and non-target impact on the earth worm, E. eugeniae, along with commercial pesticides. The entomopathogenic fungus exposure resulted in the modification of the levels of detoxification enzymes as well as significant increases in catalase and superoxide dismutase activity after exposure to the entomopathogenic fungus. Bioassay results showed that B. bassiana and M. anisopliae displayed larval mortality against third and fourth instars. Correspondingly, sub-lethal concentrations of B. bassiana showed development impairment as compared to M. anisopliae. Gut-histology revealed that mycotoxins dosage (4 × 105) showed significant changes in the midgut tissues as compared to control larvae. The non-target screening through artificial soil assay on the earth worm E. eugeniae, with mycotoxins B. bassiana (5 × 108 conidia/ml/kg) and M. anisopliae (5 × 108 conidia/ml/kg) showed less toxicity as compared to Monocrotophos (10 ppm/kg). Current results suggest that the fungal mycotoxins of M. anisopliae and B. bassiana significantly reduce the development of lepidopteran pests, while having only lesser impact on beneficial earthworms.
Keywords: Detoxification enzymes; Entomopathogens; Insecticides; Mid-gut; Mycotoxins; Non-target.
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