Endophytic establishment of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae in maize plants and its effect against Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae

Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the artificial establishment ofBeauveria bassianaandMetarhizium anisopliaeas endophytes in maize plants, and its effect in controlling the fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda(J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae. The commercial strainsB. bassianaBb-18 andM. anisopliaeMa-30 were concentrated at 1 × 108conidia ml−1, and the soil drench method was used to establish them as endophytes in maize plant parts. The biological control assays were conducted under laboratory conditions on second and fourth larval instars ofS. frugiperda.B. bassianacolonized roots, stems, and leaves of maize tissues. However, a high occurrence ofB. bassianawas obtained in roots than leaves and stems with 25, 10, and 5 isolations, respectively, whereasM. anisopliaewas only acquired on roots. Both entomopathogenic fungi caused (100%) mortality on the second instar larvae. In addition,B. bassianaandM. anisopliaekilled (87 and 75%) of the fourth larval instars, respectively. The fungusM. anisopliaecaused the highest sporulation rates during the study. These results suggest that the entomopathogenic fungi might contribute to a sustainableS. frugiperdamanagement in maize production in Cuba.