its control. The results of field observations on E. obesa showed that Green Muscle
®
was more effective than other treatments when it had been sprayed on oak trunks or
foliage, where the nymphs feed. Dimilin
® with oil carrier was the second effective
product (with 70–83.8% mortality) whereas, B. bassiana did not cause any considerable mortality on the nymphal stage. It seems that Green Muscle
® with oil carrier
can be applied within management program of this pest.
Furthermore, one of the important aspects of EPFs is their impact on immune
defenses of their host. Ghazavi et al. (2004) evaluated the cellular immune response
of Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera: Acrididae) to Fashand isolate of B. bassiana.
Their results indicated that the total hemocyte count (THC) and differential hemocyte count (DHC) increased during the first three days of infection but subsequently
decreased. The phagocytic potential of blood cells decreased with the development
of the fungus. Although the hemocytes were able to phagocytize the aerial conidia
injected to insects’ hemocoel at the beginning of infection and blastospores produced
in the course of fungal proliferation, these fungal elements were not killed and after
germination or multiplication, they destroyed the cells, in which they were enclosed
and colonized the host hemocoel.
One of the important criteria in applying fungi is their persistence post application. Bagheri and Tajvand (2006) designed an experiment to control E. obesa with
M. acridum with application to foliage. There were significant differences among
different time intervals, including immediately after application, one day after
application, three days after application, seven days after application, ten days
after application, and with no application as a control treatment. They also addressed
the effect of Green Muscle
® on survival and feeding behavior of praying mantis,
Mantis religiosa (Mantodea: Mantidae), the most important natural enemy for
E. obesa in Khuzestan province. Mortality of mantis was not observed in any
treatment but also mantid nymphs continued to feed and molt, however there was
a decrease in feeding behavior, from 78% to 54% (Bagheri and Tajvand 2008).
Finally, another important and harmful pest of field crops in Sistan and
Blouchistan province is the sugarcane grasshopper Chrotogonus trachypterus
(Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae). This insect has high populations in this province
and is one of the most important pest in early stages of wheat growth and other crops,
especially in seedling stage. Mirshekar et al. (2004) evaluated effects of two native
isolates of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae and also Green Muscle
® on
C. trachypterus. Comparison between LD50s of the isolates indicated that native
isolate of M. anisopliae had the lowest LD50 and was more effective than others.
Also, native isolate of B. bassiana was more virulent than a commercialized
formulation of M. anisopliae, also Green Muscle
® .
Trichoderma harzianum (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) is a fungus which also has
an important role in pest management. Hamzehei et al. (2018) reported the pathogenicity of native isolate of T. harzianum on the grasshopper, C. trachypterus under
laboratory conditions with a calculated LC50 of 1.01 Â 10
6 conidia ml
À1 .
454
H. Askary et al.
®
was more effective than other treatments when it had been sprayed on oak trunks or
foliage, where the nymphs feed. Dimilin
® with oil carrier was the second effective
product (with 70–83.8% mortality) whereas, B. bassiana did not cause any considerable mortality on the nymphal stage. It seems that Green Muscle
® with oil carrier
can be applied within management program of this pest.
Furthermore, one of the important aspects of EPFs is their impact on immune
defenses of their host. Ghazavi et al. (2004) evaluated the cellular immune response
of Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera: Acrididae) to Fashand isolate of B. bassiana.
Their results indicated that the total hemocyte count (THC) and differential hemocyte count (DHC) increased during the first three days of infection but subsequently
decreased. The phagocytic potential of blood cells decreased with the development
of the fungus. Although the hemocytes were able to phagocytize the aerial conidia
injected to insects’ hemocoel at the beginning of infection and blastospores produced
in the course of fungal proliferation, these fungal elements were not killed and after
germination or multiplication, they destroyed the cells, in which they were enclosed
and colonized the host hemocoel.
One of the important criteria in applying fungi is their persistence post application. Bagheri and Tajvand (2006) designed an experiment to control E. obesa with
M. acridum with application to foliage. There were significant differences among
different time intervals, including immediately after application, one day after
application, three days after application, seven days after application, ten days
after application, and with no application as a control treatment. They also addressed
the effect of Green Muscle
® on survival and feeding behavior of praying mantis,
Mantis religiosa (Mantodea: Mantidae), the most important natural enemy for
E. obesa in Khuzestan province. Mortality of mantis was not observed in any
treatment but also mantid nymphs continued to feed and molt, however there was
a decrease in feeding behavior, from 78% to 54% (Bagheri and Tajvand 2008).
Finally, another important and harmful pest of field crops in Sistan and
Blouchistan province is the sugarcane grasshopper Chrotogonus trachypterus
(Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae). This insect has high populations in this province
and is one of the most important pest in early stages of wheat growth and other crops,
especially in seedling stage. Mirshekar et al. (2004) evaluated effects of two native
isolates of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae and also Green Muscle
® on
C. trachypterus. Comparison between LD50s of the isolates indicated that native
isolate of M. anisopliae had the lowest LD50 and was more effective than others.
Also, native isolate of B. bassiana was more virulent than a commercialized
formulation of M. anisopliae, also Green Muscle
® .
Trichoderma harzianum (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) is a fungus which also has
an important role in pest management. Hamzehei et al. (2018) reported the pathogenicity of native isolate of T. harzianum on the grasshopper, C. trachypterus under
laboratory conditions with a calculated LC50 of 1.01 Â 10
6 conidia ml
À1 .
454
H. Askary et al.