Evaluating the Pathogenic Effects of Three Cuticle-Degrading Enzymes from Beauveria bassiana on Various Life Stages of Bactrocera zonata
Sanaullah *
Department of Entomology, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan, Pakistan.
Aneeqa Javed
Department of Botany, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Ghazala Muzafar
Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Habiba Ehsan
Department of Botany, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Sehar Fatima
National Agriculture Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Saniya Jamal
Department of Molecular Biology, Virtual University, Pakistan.
Zohaib Asad
Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International, Pakistan.
Muhammad Behraz Qayyum
Department of Agricultural Entomology, University of Agriculture Faislabad, Pakistan.
Muhammad Atif
Department of Botany, The Islamia University Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Effat Naz
Department of Botany, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: This study focused on managing Bactrocera zonata, an invasive Tephritid fruit fly that attacks a variety of fruits, by applying cuticle degrading enzymes (CDE) extracted from Beauveria bassiana, a phytopathogenic agent for the biological control of insect pests, as confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis.
Methodology: Proteases, lipases, and chitinases were among the cuticle-degrading enzymes with varying molecular weights of 19–47 kDa, 32 kDa, and 49.47 kDa, respectively. The crude enzymes that were extracted and employed at doses of 1.5, 3, 5, 7, and 10µL were applied to larvae, pupae, and adults.
Results: At 10µL/mL, the death rates for larvae and adults were found to be 78.50±2.10% and 80±2.15%, respectively. Lower amounts (1.5µL/mL) resulted in a mortality rate of 13.33±1.92%, with control coming in second. The treated insects showed a low proportion of adult emergence (10±2.63%) from pupae, while the untreated group of insects showed a greater percentage (65.0±5.77%) of adult emergence.
Conclusion: The outcome demonstrated that concentration affected both adult emergence from pupae and mortality. Consequently, the pathogenicity of B. bassiana mycelium against B. zonata was increased by the addition of CDE.
Keywords: Adult emergence, B. zonata, B. bassiana, cuticle-degrading enzymes, mortality, biological control