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21 July 2023 Burkholderia spp.-based biopesticide controls wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in potatoes
Mika K. Pagani, Timothy B. Johnson, Hélène B. Doughty, Kelly C. McIntyre, Thomas P. Kuhar
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Abstract

Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) are economically significant pests of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), damaging the marketable portion of the crop by feeding and tunneling into tubers. While conventional potato growers use the few registered synthetic insecticides to control wireworms, certified organic growers are left with less options due to the limited effectiveness of the available insecticides. Biologically derived pesticides provide an additional alternative for both systems. Certain gram-negative proteobacteria, such as Burkholderia spp., possess insecticidal compounds. However, very little is known about their efficacy on wireworms. From 2018 to 2021, we conducted experiments in Virginia to assess the efficacy of a Burkholderia spp.-based commercial pesticide, Majestene, as a wireworm control in potatoes. In a lab experiment, soil drench application of this insecticide at a rate of 66 g a.i. per 1 liter resulted in 30% wireworm mortality and significantly reduced wireworm feeding damage on potato tubers. In the field, in-furrow applications of Burkholderia spp. at a rate of 17.66 kg a.i. per ha significantly reduced wireworm damage to tubers in 2 of 7 field experiments conducted. By comparison, the commercial standard insecticide, bifenthrin, significantly reduced tuber damage in 3 of the 7 field experiments. Our study demonstrates the prospect for proteobacteria-derived insecticides for control of wireworms and potentially other soil-dwelling insects. In conclusion, findings present growers with another option to combat wireworm pressure, especially in organic systems.

Mika K. Pagani, Timothy B. Johnson, Hélène B. Doughty, Kelly C. McIntyre, and Thomas P. Kuhar "Burkholderia spp.-based biopesticide controls wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) in potatoes," Journal of Economic Entomology 116(5), 1934-1938, (21 July 2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad146
Received: 22 August 2022; Accepted: 13 July 2023; Published: 21 July 2023
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KEYWORDS
biological control
chemical control
Elateridae
pest Management
Potato
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