Dual biocontrol potential of the entomopathogenic fungus Akanthomyces muscarius against Thaumetopoea pityocampa and plant pathogenic fungi

Amal Saidi; Samira Mebdoua; Dalila Mecelem; Nawal Al-Hoshani; Nouari Sadrati; Fehmi Boufahja; Hamdi Bendif

doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103719

Dual biocontrol potential of the entomopathogenic fungus Akanthomyces muscarius against Thaumetopoea pityocampa and plant pathogenic fungi

Saudi J Biol Sci. 2023 Aug;30(8):103719. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103719. Epub 2023 Jun 28.

Authors

Amal Saidi¹, Samira Mebdoua², Dalila Mecelem², Nawal Al-Hoshani³, Nouari Sadrati⁴, Fehmi Boufahja⁵, Hamdi Bendif⁶

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory de Gestion et Valorisation des Ressources Naturelles et Assurance Qualité, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Bouira,10000 Bouira, Algeria.
² Department of Agronomic Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences and Earth Sciences, University of Bouira,10000 Bouira, Algeria.
³ Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Laboratory of Characterization and Valorization of Natural Resources, University Mohamed El Bachir El Ibrahimi, Bordj Bou-Arreridj 34000, Algeria.
⁵ Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Natural and Life Sciences Department, Faculty of Sciences, Mohamed Boudiaf University, BP 166 Msila, 28000 Msila, Algeria.

Abstract

Akanthomyces spp. species are known for their capacity to biocontrol of certain insects and plant pathogens; however, their ability to biocontrol the pine processionary (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) and certain phytopathogenic fungi belonging to the genera Fusarium and Curvularia have not been studied before. In this study, a strain from Akanthomyces muscarius was isolated from wheat grains and then identified by morphological and molecular tests. The strain was further studied for its capacity to control Thaumetopoea pityocampa larvae through dose-mortality tests, and its ability to control some phytopathogenic fungi strains of the genera Fusarium and Curvularia was studied through direct confrontation tests. Dose-mortality tests at three concentrations of Akanthomyces muscarius against the first instar larvae revealed a mortality of 92.15% after 11 days for the concentration of 2.3 × 10⁶conidia.ml^-1, with a median lethal concentration of 7.6 x10³ conidia.ml^1. Our isolate also showed antifungal activity against these phytopathogenic fungi with inhibition rates ranging from 39.61% to 52.94%. Akanthomyces muscarius proved to be a promising biocontrol agent for plant pests and diseases.

Keywords: Akanthomyces muscarius; Dual Biocontrol; Entomopathogenic fungus; Phytopathogenic fungi; Thaumetopoea pityocampa.