Isolation, identification and pathogenicity of local entomopathogenic bacteria as biological control agents against the wild cochineal Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) on cactus pear in Morocco.

ABSTRACT: The Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) cactus, a crucial crop in Morocco, is threatened by the wild cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell). The aim of this research was to investigate the efficacy of nine bacterial strains against both D. opuntiae nymphs and adults females applied individually or after black soap in the laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions. Using the partial 16S ribosomal DNA, the bacterial isolates were identified as Pseudomonas koreensis, Pseudomonas sp., Burkholderia sp. and Bacillus sp. Under laboratory conditions, the insecticidal activity of P. koreensis strain 66Ms.04 showed the level mortality (88%) of adult females' at 108 CFU/mL, 7 days after application. At a concentration of 108 CFU/mL, P. koreensis strain 66Ms.04 and Pseudomonas sp. (strains 37 and 5) caus

SUBMITTER: El Fakhouri K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10703873 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature