Efficiency of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill for control of Corn Stem Borer (Sesamia cretica Led) in Anbar, Iraq

Abstract

Beauveria bassiana is a fungi which used as biological control factor against Sesamia cretica Led. S. cretica is usually only one component of a complex of stem borers attacking corn plants. Chemical control is of limited use. Because the chemical control is heavy risk for nature. And the general the insect is towards the use of non-chemical methods, such as biological control. The efficincy of two isolates of B. bassiana (1,2); with some adjuvants (dispersive, carriers) added to the suspended solution of the fungi in soy bean extract and date syrup. Results revealed that two isolates reduced the percentage of the corn plant infection as compared with control treatment, it was also indicated that spraying corn plants by the suspension of the isolate with DMS (0,02 %) was significantly reduced the percentage of infestation to (1.62 %) compared with control treatment (21.86 %) after (36) days of treatment. Whereas the results of studying the efficiency of different cultural medium for propagation of B. bassiana showed that the soya bean extract alone and combined with date syrup achieved the best mycelium growth and sporulation after seven days from culture compared either other culture medium as it reached 264.3 mg, 243.6 mg and 217.5 *10 6 , 252.5×10 6 spore each 0.1gm, respectively.