Safety Assessment of Selected Biopesticides and Botanicals on Trichogramma Spp
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Indian Journal of Experimental Biology Vol. 57, June 2019, pp. 443-449 Safety assessment of selected biopesticides and botanicals on Trichogramma spp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in fields Sudhendu Sharma* & Naveen Aggarwal Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, Punjab, India Received 12 February 2017; revised 04 September 2018 A biological alternative to pesticides in agriculture is an important subject as it promotes environmental health. Unlike synthetic persticides, they do not harm other beneficial insects and natural enemies of pests. Here, we studied the influence of five biopesticides/botanicals [Dipel WP (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki), Myco-Jaal 10% SC (Beauvaria bassiana), entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), Steinernema feltiae), Neem azal 1% (10000 ppm azadirachtin) and Karanj oil 2% (20000 ppm karanjin)] on adult emergence and the parasitisation efficiency of Trichogramma spp. in basmati rice. Our results revealed that all the biopesticides/botanicals tested at varied doses against adult emergence of the Trichogramma spp were harmless to slightly harmful, though negative relationship between dose and the emergence was observed. Neem azal 1% @ 5.0 mL/L and karanj oil 2% @ 20.0 mL/L affected the adult emergence of Trichogramma chilonis and T. japonicum negatively. The parasitization efficiency of the surviving individuals was not affected in all the treatments. However, exposure of 2-fold doses of biopesticides i.e., neem azal 1% @ 10.0 mL/L and karanj oil 2% @ 40.0 mL/L, significantly disrupted the adult emergence of T. chilonis and T. japonicum though, the surviving individuals showed the same oviposition ability resulting in successful parasitism. The order of toxicity of different biopesticides/botanicals against Trichogrammatids was Neem azal 1% > Karanj oil 2% > Dipel WP > EPN > Myco-Jaal 10% SC. Keywords: Basmati rice, Biological pest control, Biopesticides, Botanicals, Endoparasitoids, EPN, IPM, Karanj oil, Neem azal, Pest control, Trichogramma, Wasps Among the rice cultivars, aromatic rice, basmati holds a In many agroecosystems, sustainable insect pest unique niche due to its distinct aroma and flavour. India management is exercised through biological control. produces more than 70% of the total world aromatic Hymenopteran wasps in the genus Trichogramma rice. The country exported 4.06 mT of basmati rice, (Trichogrammatidae) has widely been used for worth 4.17 billion US dollars, during the year 2017-18 management of Lepidopteran pests under numerous (APEDA, 2018)1. Synthetic pesticides affect non-target biological systems4. Egg parasitism by Trichogramma insect species and also drastically disrupt natural pest chilonis Ishii and Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead control2. Excess application of these pesticides results in has been significantly effective in the biological pesticide residues. On the other hand, increasing global suppression of yellow stemborer, Scirpophaga demand of food safety has stimulated research on risks incertulas and leaffolder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis associated with consumption of food toxins. Therefore, in rice5-8. Biopesticides based on Bacillus food rejection or acceptance across international borders thuringiensis Berliner have been used against is being regulated by national and international food stemborer and leaffolder in rice, which have reduced regulations. Basmati rice exports to the US had been the population of these pests9,10. Similarly, botanical plunged in recent past as many Indian firms faced pesticides, present an important alternative to rejection for higher pesticide residues, threatening multi- minimize the use of or replace the synthetic 3 billion rice export industry . This has led to increased pesticides. However, influence of these biopesticides awareness of ecologically safe produce, and encouraged on the natural enemy population, particularly Tricho- organic farming. grammatids, is little known. Thus, in the present —————— study, we investigated the disruptive effect of these *Correspondence: Phone: +91 9780010958 (Mob.) biopesticides/botanicals on these natural enemies so E-mail: [email protected] as to avoid the harmful ones. 444 INDIAN J EXP BIOL, JUNE 2019 Materials and Methods Treatment protocol Insect rearing Effect on adult emergence The cultures of test insects, T. chilonis and The experiment was conducted in semi-field T. japonicum were mass maintained on laboratory conditions wherein basmati rice plants of variety Pusa host, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Basmati 1121 were raised in pots at Entomological Pyralidae) in the Biocontrol Laboratory at Department Research Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Tricho-cards with counted number (approx. Ludhiana, India. The eggs of C. cephalonica were 100) of T. chilonis and T. japonicum parasitized Corcyra used as host for mass production of these eggs were stapled to these potted plants. During 2012 Trichogrammatids. Bold white sorghum grains meant crop season, each of the biopesticide/botanical was for human consumption were procured. The required applied in three different dosages. In all, there were 16 quantity of sorghum was milled to 3-4 pieces of each treatments and the experiment was replicated thrice. The grain and heat sterilized in oven at 100ºC for 30 min. biopesticides, namely Dipel WP (Bacillus thuringiensis To prevent bacterial infestation, streptomycin var. kurstaki) and @ Myco-Jaal 10% SC (Beauvaria sulphate was added to the crushed sorghum at the rate bassiana) each @ 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 g/L, of 0.2 g/Kg and mixed thoroughly. Corcyra rearing entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae @ 4.0, boxes each containing 2.5 kg of milled sorghum were 6.0 and 8.0 million IJs (infective juveniles) per litre; and charged with Corcyra eggs @ 0.5 cc/box. These botanicals, namely neem azal 1% (10000 ppm boxes were kept on iron racks (90 cm length × 45 cm azadirachtin) @ 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 mL/L, karanj oil 2% breadth × 180 cm height) in rearing laboratory at (20000 ppm karanjin) @ 10.0, 15.0 and 20 mL/L water 27±2°C and 70±5% humidity. On 40th day, moths were sprayed up to runoff on the stapled trichocards. For started emerging and these were collected daily and the untreated control treatment, normal water was transferred to the specially designed oviposition sprayed. The cards were removed after spray and cages. The fresh eggs of C. cephalonica were brought to the biocontrol laboratory to observe the collected and treated with UV rays for 45 min to emergence of parasitoids. These surviving parasitoids prevent hatching. These eggs were glued to cards of were further observed for their parasitization efficiency. 15×10 cm and were exposed to adult female During 2013 crop season, again the basmati rice Trichogramma in the ratio of 8:1 for 24 h at 27±1°C plants of variety Pusa Basmati 1121 were raised in pots and 65 ± 5% humidity. at the same location and Tricho-cards with counted number of parasitized Corcyra eggs were stapled to Biopesticides/botanicals In all, five biopesticide formulations (three these potted plants. The procedure for the spray and microbials and two plant based) at different doses observance of emergence of parasitoids was similar to were tested for their efficacy. These biopesticides the previous year. However, during 2013, the were selected because of their potential use in pest biopesticides/botanicals were applied at the highest test management in paddy under organic farming dose and double dose of first year’s treatment doses i.e. conditions. The formulations, their active ingredients Dipel WP @ and Myco-Jaal 10% SC each @ 8.0 and and producers are listed in Table 1. 16.0 g/L, entomopathogenic nematode S. feltiae @ 8.0 and 16.0 million IJs/L; and Neem azal 1% @ 5.0 and Table 1—Formulations tested against 10.0 mL/L, and Karanj oil 2% @ 20.0 and 40.0 mL/L Trichogramma chilonis and T. japonicum water. In all, there were 11 treatments including Formulation Active ingredient Producer untreated control and the experiment was replicated Dipel WP Bacillus thuringiensis var. Valent BioSciences thrice. The response of the test insects to toxicant Kurstaki (32 g a.i./Kg) Corporation, USA exposure was classified using the IOBC toxicity ratings Myco-Jaal Beauvaria bassiana Pest Control (India) wherein for extended laboratory, semi-field studies, the 10% SC (1×1010 conidia/mL) Pvt. Ltd, India scale runs from 1= harmless (<25% mortality), Entomo- Steinernema National Bureau of pathogenic feltiae Agricultural Insect 2= slightly harmful (25-50%), 3= moderately harmful 11 nematode Resources, India (51-75%) to 4= harmful (>75%) . Neem azal Azadirachtin E.I.D.-Parry (India) 1% (10000 ppm) Ltd., India Effect on parasitization efficiency Karanj oil Karanjin Parker India Group, The experiment to assess the parasitization 2% (20000 ppm) India efficiency of the surviving individuals following SHARMA & AGGARWAL ASSESSMENT OF BIOPESTICIDES/BOTANICALS TO TRICHOGRAMMA 445 application of different biopesticides/botanicals was varied in their toxicities to the egg parasitoids, conducted in the Biocontrol Laboratory at 27±1ºC and T. chilonis and T. japonicum. Among the different 65±5% humidity in Department of Entomology, treatments, the adult emergence of T. chilonis varied Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2012 from 79.38 to 88.64% and that mortality ranged from and 2013. The experiment was replicated thrice on the 11.36 to 20.62% (Table 2). Out of 16 treatments, surviving individuals