African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (1), pp. 113-116, January 2005   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2004 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Microbial control of caged population of Zonocerus variegatus using Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium sp.

O.E. FAGADE¹, S.A. BALOGUN² and C.J. LOMER³

¹Environmental and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

²Environmental Microbiology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria.

³International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Biological Control and Functional Biodiversity Centre, BP 08-0932 Cotonou, Benin Republic.

*Correspondence author.  E-mail: balogunsa33@hotmail.com

 Accepted 13 October, 2004

Microbial control of caged populations of Zonocerus variegatus was carried out using indigenous fungal entomopathogens isolated from the grasshopper’s cadaver. Bioassay response indicated a dose-dependent mortality coupled with drastic reduction in food consumption among spores infected grasshoppers. Lethal time (LT₅₀) of 4.6 days for 10³ spores/ml and 3.8 days for 10⁷ spores/ml of oil formulation of Beauveria bassiana were observed. While Metarhizium sp recorded LT₅₀ of 9.0 days and 2.8 days for 10³ and 10⁷ spores/ml, respectively. The results obtained were discussed in relation to use of the isolates in the control Z. variegatus infestation in forest agro-ecosystem of south west, Nigeria.

Key words: Microbial control, entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana, Zonoccrus variegatus, Metarhizium sp.