Isolation and characterization of Metarhizium isolates from the soil of Afghanistan and their mycoinsecticide effects against subterranean termite (Anacanthotermes vagans

Abstract

The entomopathogenic fungi are widely used as a biocontrol agent against many insect pests. In the present study,<br>strains of Metarhizium were isolated and identified from Badakhshan province of Afghanistan. The taxonomic identity of<br>the isolates was confirmed by molecular data, using (ITS) rDNA gene sequence, and morphology: Metarhizium robertsii<br>and Metarhizium anisopliae. The virulence and the mass conidial production of these strains were compared with two<br>Iranian isolates of Beauveria (B. bassiana and B. varroae) using four different raw substrates (broken rice, broken wheat,<br>green gram, and saw dust) by solid-state fermentation. The M. robertsii strain had the highest total conidial yields obtained<br>after 18 days on broken rice and the least conidial growth was observed on saw dust. For B. bassiana, the highest conidial<br>yields were obtained after 18 days on green gram, and also like to M. robertsii, the least conidial growth was observed on<br>saw dust. The conidia suspension was applied against subterranean termite, Anacanthotermes vagans, at four different<br>concentrations (1×105, 1×106, 1×107, 1×108 conidia/ml-1). The highest mortality rate was obtained from 1×108 conidia/ml-1<br>for both M. robertsii and B. bassiana. In general, the indigenous isolate of M. robertsii was more virulent than B. bassiana<br>while B. varroae had not effect on termites.