New insights into biocontrol of the white grub ,Polyphylla olivieri

Abstract

White grub, Polyphylla olivieri (Col., Melolonthidae) is a serious pest of fruit and other trees . The larvae damage the roots and cause trees to die and ultimately fall.This scarabeid is a dangerous pest of orchard trees in most parts of Iran.It damage are severe especaially for youg trees.Complex life cycle of this pest and difficulty in application of synthetic pesticides for its control are from most obvious reason to evaluate environmental friend-techniques including application of natural insect pathogns like Metarhizium anisopliae .Control measures for white grubs have depended mainly on conventional chemical pesticides.While alternate control methods of this group is possible with entomopathogens ,but use of these technologies is limited. Currently, there are some products formulated with fungal pathogens of insects that using commercially for controlling white grubs through the world.In this research, potential of a powerfull insect pathogen was investigated whether might be useful for control of the white grub, Polyphylla olivieri.Exploratory survey revealed that M. anisopliae is widely distributed in the Tehran soils province.Disease prevalence of M. anisopliae in grub cadaver was between 0 and 2% depending on host origin and species. Analysis of soils from different regions showed that M. anisopliae is common and was present in about 10% of the samples irrespective of their origin. Screening of fungus isolates in time mortality studies indicated that two isolates gave over 60% infected grubs.Although some of the isolates of M. anisopliae were highly pathogenic more study needed about their compatibllity with the pesticides, strain improvement to enhance epizootic potential may be appropriate. M. anisopliae has the potential to be an effective biological control agent of Polyphylla olivieri.