Article abstract

Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research

Research Article | Published June 2017 | Volume 5, Issue 1, pp. 11-16

 

Pathogenicity of entomopathogenic Entomophthora grylli on grasshoppers Diabolocatantops axillaris and Zonocerus variegatus causing leaf damage of shea tree seedlings

 


 

 

 Eziashi E. I.*

 Chidi N. I.

 

  Email Author

 

 

 

Plant Pathology Division, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), P.M.B. 1030 Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

 


……....…...………..........................…………....………............…............……...........……........................................................………...……..…....….......…

 Citation: Eziashi EI, Chidi NI (2017). Pathogenicity of entomopathogenic Entomophthora grylli on grasshoppers Diabolocatantops axillaris and Zonocerus variegatus causing leaf damage of shea tree seedlings. J. Agric. Crop Res. 5(1): 11-16.

………………..........................………………....……............……....……..................................................………...……..…….......................................……

 Abstract 


The grasshoppers Diabolocatantops axillaris and Zonocerus variegatus were found feeding on the leaves of shea tree seedlings which caused damage that appears as rough patches on the surface. The objectives of this study were to provide healthy shea tree seedlings and control grasshoppers causing leaf damage using Entomophthora grylli as bioagent. Out of a total of 18 deaths termite mounds sand and forest soil samples that were examined, only 7 were found hosting E. grylli from Ihievbe Owan West with 26.5%, Ivbiaro Ebiaro Esako West with 9.2%, Eko-Igohebhe Esan Central with 8.7% and Umegbe Oredo with 2.8% respectively, all in Edo State. For the insect bait method, Orthoptera, D. axillaris and Z. variegatus, picked E. grylli from soil forest. Pathogenicity test revealed that injected E. grylli on grasshoppers with approximately 1 × 103 conidia consisting of mature resting spores (germinated and ungerminated) caused sluggish movement on grasshoppers on the eighth day. Grasshopper was found death as it clings to the aerial top of the container cover lid. Death of D. axillaris was observed on the eleventh day with mycelia growth on the abdomen. The results suggest that E. grylli could be an effective bioagent for the control of grasshoppers.

Keywords  Pathogenicity   Entomophthora grylli   grasshopper   shea   leaf

 

 

 

  References

 

Akihisa T, Kojima N, Kikuchi T, Yasukawa K, Tokuda H, Masters ET, Manosroi A, Manosroi J (2010). Anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive effects of triterpene cinnamates and acetates from shea fat. J. Oleo Sci. 59(6):273-280.

Boffa JM (1999). Agroforestry Parklands in Sub-Saharan Africa, FAO Conservation Guide, 34, FAO, Rome, Italy.

Chapman RF, Joern A (1990). Biology of grasshoppers. Ed. Widely Inter-science publication p. 563.

Capinera JL (2008). Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer. pp. 1709-1712.

Commonwealth Mycological Institute (1979). Description of pathogenic fungi and Bacteria. Kew, Surrey, England. pp. 601-610.

Cott H. (1940). Adaptive Coloration in Animals, Oxford University Press.

Ezema DO, Ogujiofor KO (1992). The evaluation of Butyrospermum paradoxum as a suppository base. Int. J. Pharmacogn. 30(4):275-280.

Eziashi EI, Douro OK, Odigie EE, Adekunle AA, Chidi NI, Omoregie KO (2016a). Biological Control: Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana as Bio-insecticide for the Control of Termites Macrotermes subhyalinus. Int. J. Appl. Res. Technol. 5:10.

Eziashi EI, Douro OK, Solomon S, Hamza AM, Adaigbe VC, Edokpayi AA, Chidi NI (2016b). Microbial Control of Termites in Nigeria. WAAPP-CARGS project report 2016.

Davidowitz G (2015). "Grasshoppers". Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Retrieved 4 May 2015.

O'Neil KM, Woods SA, Streett DA (1997). Grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) Foraging on Grasshopper Feces: Observational and Rubidium-Labeling Studies". Environ. Entomol. 26(6):1224-1231.

Lovett PN, Haq N (2000). Diversity of Shea nut tree (Vitellaria paradoxer C.F. Gaertn) in Resour. Crop Evol 47(3):293-304.

Mestre J (1988). Les acridiens des formations herbeuses d’Afrique de l’Ouest. CIRAD-PRIFAS. p. 330.

Michael JB, Scott RA, Walsh ME, Ramos RJ, St. Leger Julie CS, Donald WR (1995). Pathothypes in the Entomophaga grylli species Complex of Grasshopper Pathogens Differentiated with Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA and Cloned Probes. Appl. Environ. Microbiol 61(2):556-560.

O'Toole, C (2002). Firefly Encyclopedia of Insects and Spiders, Firefly Books. ISBN 1-55297-612-2.

Valovage WD, Nelson DR (1990). Host Range and Recorded Distribution of Entomophaga grylli (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales), a Fungal Pathogen of Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae), in North Dakota". J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 63(3):454-458.