Bioassay of Beauveria bassiana Alginate Pellet Formulation Against Mortality of Spodoptera frugiperda in the Laboratory
Irna Ermiyanti, Itji Diana Daud a, Andi Nasaruddin and Othniel Bin Hasri

Departement of plant pest and diseases, Faculty of Agriculture,
Hasanuddin University
Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan 90245, Indonesia

Abstract

Abstract. The attack level of Spodoptera frugiperda greatly influences the production of maize in the field. The use of insecticides to control Spodoptera frugiperda continues to increase, making it possible to become resistant. Increased public awareness of the negative impacts of using pesticides, especially on human health and the environment, has led to the discovery and development of alternative control strategies that are more environmentally friendly. One of them is using the entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) Beuvaria bassiana which has the ability to aggressively paralyze insect larvae and imago that are affected by the spores of this fungus. Beauveria bassiana can be mass produced in both solid and liquid media. The aim of the study was to test the effectiveness of the alginate pellet formulation of Beauveria bassiana on spore density and mortality of Spodoptera frugiperda test larvae in the laboratory. The efficacy test of the formulation on the test insects was carried out by dipping the test larvae feed into the suspension or solution of Beauveria bassiana alginate pellets in each treatment using 50 third instar Spodoptera frugiperda larvae. The results of this study can be concluded that the addition of formulation ingredients such as rice bran, wheat flour, tapioca flour and corn flour had an effect on the spore density of Beauveria bassiana alginate pellets, the highest spore density with a conidia density of 2.35x108 conidia/ml was found in the wheat flour treatment as well as with the highest percentage of mortality of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae on day 6 - 9 HSA respectively 60%, 68% and 70%. The results of this study can be concluded that the alginate pellet formulation made from the active ingredient of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana is effective in controlling the population of Spoduptura frugiferda larvae.

Keywords: Beauveria bassiana, formulation, alginate pellets, Spoduptura frugiferda

Topic: Integrated pest and disease management