Isolation, molecular characterization of indigenous Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) isolate, using ITS-5.8s rDNA region, and its efficacy against the Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract Background As a biological control agent, entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) can give an alternative to high-risk pesticides. Metarhizium anisopliae is one of the most promising pest controls EPF in the worldwide. Result On fungi-specific selective media, the EPF isolate SVPUAT was isolated from Western Uttar Pradesh, India. The isolate was identified as M. anisopliae (GenBank accession no. OP962431) after molecular screening utilizing PCR amplification with the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region primer. In a contact toxicity experiment, the isolate SVPUAT was tested against the 4th instar larvae of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) at concentrations ranging from 103 to 1010 spores ml−1. The lethal time LT50 and LT90 values for the 4th instar larvae of H. armigera injected with 1 × 1010 spores ml−1 were 3.46 and 5.54 days, respectively. Conclusions The present M. anisopliae isolate SVPUAT was identified using the ITS-5.8s rDNA region from GenBank and has showed significant pathogenicity to H. armigera. More research is needed to prove the efficacy against various pests of economic important as a legitimate choice for an integrated pest management program.