Improved control of Trialeurodes vaporariorum using mixture combinations of entomopathogenic fungi and the chemical insecticide spiromesifen

Dearlove, Eleanor L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5268-9554; Chandler, David; Edgington, Steve; Berry, Shaun D.; Martin, Gareth; Svendsen, Claus ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7281-647X; Hesketh, Helen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1794-7658. 2024 Improved control of Trialeurodes vaporariorum using mixture combinations of entomopathogenic fungi and the chemical insecticide spiromesifen. Scientific Reports, 14, 15259. 11, pp. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66051-8

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66051-8

Abstract/Summary

Greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) is a major global pest, causing direct damage to plants and transmitting viral plant diseases. Management of T. vaporariorum is problematic because of widespread pesticide resistance, and many greenhouse growers rely on biological control agents to regulate T. vaporariorum populations. However, these are often slow and vary in efficacy, leading to subsequent application of chemical insecticides when pest populations exceed threshold levels. Combining chemical and biological pesticides has great potential but can result in different outcomes, from positive to negative interactions. In this study, we evaluated co-applications of the entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana and Cordyceps farinosa and the chemical insecticide spiromesifen in laboratory bioassays. Complex interactions between the EPFs and insecticide were described using an ecotoxicological mixtures model, the MixTox analysis. Depending on the EPF and chemical concentrations applied, mixtures resulted in additivity, synergism, or antagonism in terms of total whitefly mortality. Combinations of B. bassiana and spiromesifen, compared to single treatments, increased the rate of kill by 5 days. Results indicate the potential for combined applications of EPF and spiromesifen as an effective integrated pest management strategy and demonstrate the applicability of the MixTox model to describe complex mixture interactions.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66051-8
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-) Pollution (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	2045-2322
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	MixTox model, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, microbial control, biopesticide, entomopathogenic fungi, interactions, synergy, antagonism, additivity, IPM
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Agriculture and Soil Science Biology and Microbiology
Date made live:	04 Jul 2024 08:43 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/537680

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66051-8

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)
Pollution (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

2045-2322

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

MixTox model, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, microbial control, biopesticide, entomopathogenic fungi, interactions, synergy, antagonism, additivity, IPM