Diatomaceous earth low-lethal dose effects on the fitness of entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, against two coleopteran stored product pests

Efficacy of different doses of the Beauveria bassiana-IRAN441C alone (66,125, 250, 500, 1000 mg conidia. Kg⁻¹ grains) and combined with a low-lethal dose (LD₂₅) of diatomaceous earth (DE) SilicoSec® as lethal agents were assessed against the adults of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Chrysomelidae) on mung, and cowpeas, and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Silvanidae) on wheat and barley seeds. In both species, mortality reached 60–73% in B. bassiana alone and 83–100% in fungus combined with the DE at the highest dose. A synergistic effect between B. bassiana conidia and the DE was confirmed. The DE low-lethal dose alters fungal mycosis and sporogenesis (conidia mL⁻¹) rates in the infected cadavers. The adult populations of both species were suppressed desirably despite a decrease in the number of cadaver-derived mycosis and their spore production at the highest combination doses (1000 mg kg⁻¹+ LD₂₅ of DE). Seed type had no significant effect on mycosis and sporogenesis on both insects in several combination doses. The cadaver-derived aerial conidia germination rate was increased in the presence of DE low-lethal dose, but it declined by increasing the fungal dose. Type of commodity failed to affect the germination rate of O. surinamensis-derived conidia; however, the mung bean intensified this case for another insect. In both beetles, offspring's emergence was suppressed dose-dependently seven weeks after removing exposed parents to the lethal agents as well it was more in doses mixed with DE. The most significant reduction in progeny production of treated C. maculatus occurred on cowpeas and that of treated O. surinamensis on wheat seeds. Our findings demonstrate that DE's low-lethal dose enhances the virulence of B. bassiana in the various mixtures synergistically, and co-applications of the two substances were feasible. As well, the lethal agents' adverse effects were found to carry over onto both species' offspring during two-month storage time.