Isolation and identification of entomopathogenic fungi and their evaluation against Tribolium confusum, Sitophilus zeamais, and Rhyzopertha dominica in stored maize

The objective of this study was to isolate and identify native entomopathogenic fungi from different components of maize agroecosystem, and evaluate their virulence against Tribolium confusum, Rhyzopertha dominica, and Sitophilus zeamais, three insect pest vectors of aflatoxigenic fungi. Paecilomyces and Metarhizium were the most abundant genera isolated from the soil. Identification of fungal cultures by DNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing showed that all isolates macro- and micromorphological identified as P. lilacinus were Purpureocillium lilacinum. The isolate JQ926223 showed the lowest LT50 for T. confusum (4, 66 days) and R. dominica (9, 38 days), and the isolate JQ926212 demonstrated similar LT50 for the three insects evaluated between the range of 11, 7 to 14, 95 days. Maximum mortality rate was observed for the isolate JQ926223. The isolates of Purpureocillium lilacinum JQ926223 and JQ926212 may be considered good candidates for biologic control in the ecosystem of stored maize.