Mr Muhammad Riaz1, Mr Wen-Hua Chen2

1Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, 2Department of Plant Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

Biography:

Riaz Muhammad is a dedicated PhD scholar specializing in Entomology and Plant Pathology at the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan. With over two years of extensive experience in agriculture, including Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, and Entomology.

– Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Entomology (2021 – Present)

– National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

– Master in Plant Pathology/Phytopathology (2015 – 2018) Guizhou University, China

– Bachelor of Science (BSc) Hons Agriculture, Plant Pathology (2010 – 2014) University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Professional Experience:

– Research Assistant (2021 – Present) National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

– Business Development Manager (January 2020 – May 2020) GIB Horti LTD, China

– Assistant Event Coordinator (2019 – 2020) China Crop Protection Industry Association, China

– Researcher (September 2016 – March 2018) Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China

Abstract:

The entomopathogenic fungus (EPF), Metarhizium anisopliae, is regarded as the most effective biological control agent against numerous insect families. This study aimed to isolate and characterize the local M. anisopliae from various soil habitats in Pingtung, Taiwan, and to evaluate the bio-efficacy of these isolates against an important vegetable insect pest, Spodoptera litura. Combining morphological and molecular studies, five isolates from Taiwan soils were identified as M. anisopliae. Temperature and culture media impact on fungus growth have been observed. The optimum temperature for both fungal growth and sporulation was found to be 25 ± 1 °C. Cultural media SDA exhibits higher spore production at 25 ± 1 °C compared to PDA. Studies using scanning electron microscopy were carried out to examine M. anisopliae’s infection of S. litura. Following bioassay studies, among the isolates PT-01 experienced the highest mortality rate (70%) against 2nd instar larvae of S. litura at 7 days after treatment (DAT). Upon conducting additional bioassays with this isolate against various stages of S. litura, it showed that PT-01 induced overall mortality at egg, neonatal 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th instar larvae respectively 60, 56.67, 80, 73, 50, 47, and 23% over 7 days. Overall, our findings suggest the potential of utilizing a local isolate of M. anisopliae PT-01 as a biocontrol agent for controlling the destructive insect pest S. litura. To assess this promising local isolate’s bio-efficacy in planta and field conditions, additional study is required.