Native Entomopathogenic Fungi Isolated from Rhynchophorus palmarum (Linnaeus, 1758) in Northeast Brazil

Viviane Araujo Dalbon; Juan Pablo Molina Acevedo; Karlos Antônio Lisboa Ribeiro Junior; João Manoel da Silva; Mayra Machado de Medeiros Ferro; Aldomário Santo Negrisoli Júnior; Henrique Goulart Fonseca; Antônio Euzébio Goulart Santana; Francesco Porcelli

doi:10.3390/insects15030159

Native Entomopathogenic Fungi Isolated from Rhynchophorus palmarum (Linnaeus, 1758) in Northeast Brazil

Insects. 2024 Feb 27;15(3):159. doi: 10.3390/insects15030159.

Authors

Viviane Araujo Dalbon¹, Juan Pablo Molina Acevedo², Karlos Antônio Lisboa Ribeiro Junior³, João Manoel da Silva⁴, Mayra Machado de Medeiros Ferro⁵, Aldomário Santo Negrisoli Júnior⁶, Henrique Goulart Fonseca¹, Antônio Euzébio Goulart Santana¹, Francesco Porcelli⁷

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Natural Product Research, Campus for Engineering and Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió 57072-900, AL, Brazil.
² Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research C. I. Turipana, Montería 230002, Colombia.
³ Laboratory of Natural Products and Mass Spectrometry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, MS, Brazil.
⁴ Soil Laboratory, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Alagoas-IFAL, Santana do Ipanema Campus, Santana do Ipanema 57500-000, AL, Brazil.
⁵ Phytopathology Research Laboratory, Center for Engineering and Agrarian Sciences, Federal University of Alagoas, Rio Largo 57072-900, AL, Brazil.
⁶ Brazilian Agricultural Research Company-Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros, Aracaju 49025-040, SE, Brazil.
⁷ Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Campus Universitario Ernesto Quagliariello, Via Amendola, 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy.

Abstract

Both palm weevils, the South American (Rhynchophorus palmarum) (SAPW) and the red palm weevil (R. ferrugineus, RPW), are present in South America, affecting commercial, ornamental, and native palms. These pests oviposit and thrive on selected Arecaceae. R. palmarum mainly infests coconut (Cocos nucifera), oil palms (Elaeis guineensis), and other ornamental and native palms in America, causing a significant social impact on growers. The weevils fulfill a significant ectosymbiotic macro- and microorganism role in the first period of larval development, worsening the damage which, during this period, is not yet apparent. Palm protection in the Brazilian context suggests the use of indigenous agents for microbiological biocontrol. This research identifies three Brazilian Beauveria bassiana isolates: CVAD01, CVAD02, and CVAD06. The results suggest that the strain's impact on R. palmarum can also be compared with that of the commercial strain Beauveria bassiana. Phylogenetic analysis allowed the delimitation of species of Beauveria (Hypocreales). Pathogenicity tests caused significant mortality in R. palmarum. The isolates CVAD01, CVAD02, and CVADO6 showed high pathogenicity between 7 and 21 days, with mortality rates between 90 and 100%, suggesting that they may be effective biological control agents of R. palmarum in the field when used, within available means, to mitigate the impact of R. palmarum and R. ferrugineus in South America.

Keywords: biocontrol; entomopathogenic fungi; genetic diversity; invasive pest.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by INCT—Semiochemicals and Agriculture (CNPq Proc. No. 465511/2014-7 and Fapesp Proc. No. 2014/50871-0), the Research Support Foundation of the State of Alagoas (FAPEAL/AL/BR), doctoral student program CAPES: FAPEALI II, No. 9/2017, number 88887.159888/2017-00, beneficiary’s PPG: 22003010017P5—Biotecnology RENORBIO Network and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Agritech National Research Center and received funding from the European Union Next-Generation EU (PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA (PNRR)-MISSIONE 4 COMPONENTE 2, INVESTIMENTO 1.4-D.D. 1032 17/06/2022, CN00000022). This manuscript reflects only the authors’ views and opinions, neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be considered responsible for them.