Toxicity assay of Tenebrio molitor test larvae inoculated with entomopathogenic fungi singly and in consortium
Keywords:
Entomopathogenic fungi, Biological agents, Mortality, Probit, ToxicityAbstract
The increasing concern over pesticide residues and their negative impact on food safety, environmental health, and human well-being has encouraged the exploration of biological alternatives such as entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) for pest control. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of single and consortium entomopathogenic fungi of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae to Tenebrio molitor larvae as test organisms. Fungal isolates were cultured, prepared at specific spore densities, and applied through topical methods under controlled laboratory conditions. A randomized complete design (RCD) was used with five treatments, including negative control (aquades), positive control (synthetic pesticide, Profenofos 2 mL L-1), single isolates of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae, and a consortium of both species fungi. Larval mortality and infection symptoms were observed daily, with Lethal Time (LT50) determined through probit analysis. The results indicated that B. bassiana achieved the highest toxicity with LT50 of 4.5 days, comparable to the synthetic pesticide control, while M. anisopliae required 7.8 days and the consortium 6.4 days to reach 50% mortality. Microscopic observations confirmed fungal colonization, mummification, and hyphal proliferation on infected test larvae. Statistical analysis showed significant differences among treatments (P < 0.05), with B. bassiana out performing M. anisopliae, although consortium effects were not superior to single isolates. These findings suggest that B. bassiana, individually or in combination, is a promising candidate for biopesticide development as part of sustainable pest management strategies.
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