BIPESCO: Biocontrol of important soil dwelling pests by improving the efficacy of insect pathogenic fungi

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 98.0068

Key words (English)

Microbial control; soil pests; insect pathogenic fungi; Beauveria brongniartii; ecology; molecular biology; genetic markers; soil-pathogen interactions; non-target effects

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: FAIR6-CT98-4105

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 4.3 Biomedical/Health research

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Agrarökologie und Landbau FAL

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Microbiological Institute, Innsbruck University (coordinator) (A); Research Center for Agriculture and Forestry, Laimburg (I); School of Biological Sciences, University Wales, Swansea (UK); Federal Biological Research Center for Agriculture and Forestry, Darmstadt (D); Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg/Copenhagen (DK); National University of Athens (EL); Agrifutur s.r.l., Alfianello (I); Gartenhilfe GmbH, Linz (A); Prophyta Biologischer Pflanzenschutz GmbH, Malchow (D)

Abstract (English)

Bioassays with Beauveria brongniartii against the two cockchafer species Melolontha melolontha and M. hippocastani were carried out. The most virulent strains were selected for further use (BIPESCO-strains). When comparing conidia and blastospores (1x107 spores ml-1) the blastospores tended to be more virulent. The drench method (107 conidia g-1 native soil) resulted in LT50 values of 25.8 - 33.0 days (two different soils). Applying the dipping method, second and third instar larvae tended to be more susceptible to B. brongniartii than first instar larvae. Microsatellite markers of B. brongniartii were developed which allowed the identification of individual isolates. We have shown that the analysis of ten loci allows discrimination of B. brongniartii isolates obtained from different countries and areas. This method provides a powerful tool to monitor new releases of biological control strains of B. brongniartii and to investigate their interactions with indigenous B. brongniartii isolates. In addition, it represents an efficient method for studying the biodiversity within populations of B brongniartii. Field trials were carried out at 10 sites in Switzerland with different climatic and soil conditions. 40 kg ha-1 of the commercial product of B. brongniartii were applied and the development of the fungus in the soil was studied using the isolation technique on selective medium and the Galleria bait method. The results were analysed in relation to presence/absence of the host and in relation to chemical and biological soil properties. The reduction of fungus density after two seasons post-application in absence of hosts was 89% and differed significantly from that in presence of hosts (41% reduction). A multiple regression analysis revealed a strong correlation of fungal growth with temperature, clay content and catalase activity. Laboratory studies revealed that B. brongniartii had no effect on the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris. It was found that they fed actively on the fungus so that their faeces contained higher fungus densities than the surrounding soil. In field studies no differences were found in species diversity, abundance and biomass in plots treated with B. brongniartii in comparison with untreated plots. Further field studies showed that treatments with B. brongniartii did not influence the density of another important entomopathogenic soil fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae, and did not replace conspecific isolates.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 98.0068