Entomopathogenic Efficacy and Cuticle-degrading Enzyme Production in Beauvaria bassiana and Verticillium lecanii Isolates Targeting Adult Cowpea Weevils
Abstract
Cowpea weevils (
Callosobruchus maculatus
) are a major post-harvest pest responsible for significant quantitative and qualitative losses in stored cowpea across tropical regions. The growing concerns associated with synthetic insecticides, including environmental contamination, pest resistance, and human health risks, have intensified the search for sustainable biological alternatives. This study evaluated the efficacy of two entomopathogenic fungi,
Beauveria bassiana
and
Verticillium lecanii,
against adult cowpea weevils and examined the role of their cuticle-degrading enzymes in pest control.
Contact bioassays were conducted to assess adult weevil mortality and suppression of first-generation (F1) emergence following treatments with fungal isolates. Standard enzymatic assays were performed to determine the specific activities of protease, lipase, and exochitinase produced by the fungi isolates.
Both fungi isolates induced progressive mortality in cowpea weevils, with
B. bassiana
demonstrating comparatively higher pesticidal activity. In addition, treatments with both fungi isolates significantly reduced F1 adult emergence, with emergence levels remaining below the 50% threshold considered indicative of effective population suppression. Enzymatic analysis showed that both fungi isolates produced measurable cuticle-degrading enzymes.
V. lecanii
exhibited relatively higher protease and lipase specific activities, whereas
B. bassiana
showed higher exochitinase activity.
The…
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