Isolation, Identification, Pathogenicity bioassay and Mass production of Indigenous Isolate of Entomopathogenic Fungi against Red Palm Weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract

The high incidence rates of red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Palestine consider as serious threat to palm industry; due to the sudden death of the whole trees. In this study, different Palestinian indigenous entomopathogens were isolated from different locations in the West Bank such as entomopathogenic fungi, entomopathogenic bacteria, entomopathogenic nematodes and entomopathogenic viruses. The entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae were identified morphologically and molecularly, then their pathogenicity against the RPW was evaluated. Results showed that they have a significant effective against RPW. Thus they could be considered as alternative to the chemical control. Results also revealed that mass production of these indigenous entomopathogenic fungi could be carried out by using cheap and affordable agricultural by-products, that enhances the activity and provide date palm growers alternative active bio-control agents in a wide scale and for a long term control.