Isolation and Characterization of <i>Bacillus</i> Strains from Egyptian Mangroves: Exploring Their Endophytic Potential in Maize for Biological Control of <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>

The widespread use of pesticides to manage <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> has led to significant challenges. This insect has developed resistance to 47 active insecticide ingredients. Therefore, endophytic entomopathogenic bacteria have been explored as an alternative pest management strat...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hayam M. Fathy, Mona Awad, Nawal A. Alfuhaid, El-Desoky S. Ibrahim, Moataz A. M. Moustafa, Ayatollah S. El-Zayat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/12/1057
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846105688336498688
author Hayam M. Fathy
Mona Awad
Nawal A. Alfuhaid
El-Desoky S. Ibrahim
Moataz A. M. Moustafa
Ayatollah S. El-Zayat
author_facet Hayam M. Fathy
Mona Awad
Nawal A. Alfuhaid
El-Desoky S. Ibrahim
Moataz A. M. Moustafa
Ayatollah S. El-Zayat
author_sort Hayam M. Fathy
collection DOAJ
description The widespread use of pesticides to manage <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> has led to significant challenges. This insect has developed resistance to 47 active insecticide ingredients. Therefore, endophytic entomopathogenic bacteria have been explored as an alternative pest management strategy, offering the potential to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. The current study aims to evaluate the colonization potential of indigenous marine <i>Bacillus</i> strains as endophytes in maize plants and to assess their insecticidal activity against <i>S. frugiperda</i>. Four inoculation methods—foliar application, seed treatment, soil drenching, and a combination of all three—were used to establish the <i>Bacillus</i> strains as endophytes in maize plants. Our results showed that the promising native <i>Bacillus</i> strains exhibited both antibacterial and insecticidal effects against <i>S. frugiperda</i> neonates under laboratory conditions. Foliar application of <i>Bacillus</i> sp. Esh39 caused the highest mortality rate (65%), followed by <i>Bacillus tequilensis</i> R39 (60%). However, this method did not significantly enhance plant height or chlorophyll content. The potential of these native <i>Bacillus</i> strains warrants further investigation to improve biological control via endophytic mediation. Our findings provide valuable insights into the bacterial diversity and functionality of mangrove ecosystems and pave the way for innovative, sustainable insect management strategies.
format Article
id doaj-art-28ca824c6df94e3090294fec47e74a0a
institution Kabale University
issn 2079-7737
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Biology
spelling doaj-art-28ca824c6df94e3090294fec47e74a0a2024-12-27T14:12:09ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372024-12-011312105710.3390/biology13121057Isolation and Characterization of <i>Bacillus</i> Strains from Egyptian Mangroves: Exploring Their Endophytic Potential in Maize for Biological Control of <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>Hayam M. Fathy0Mona Awad1Nawal A. Alfuhaid2El-Desoky S. Ibrahim3Moataz A. M. Moustafa4Ayatollah S. El-Zayat5Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptDepartment of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptDepartment of Biology, College of Science and Humanities, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptDepartment of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza 12613, EgyptThe widespread use of pesticides to manage <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> has led to significant challenges. This insect has developed resistance to 47 active insecticide ingredients. Therefore, endophytic entomopathogenic bacteria have been explored as an alternative pest management strategy, offering the potential to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. The current study aims to evaluate the colonization potential of indigenous marine <i>Bacillus</i> strains as endophytes in maize plants and to assess their insecticidal activity against <i>S. frugiperda</i>. Four inoculation methods—foliar application, seed treatment, soil drenching, and a combination of all three—were used to establish the <i>Bacillus</i> strains as endophytes in maize plants. Our results showed that the promising native <i>Bacillus</i> strains exhibited both antibacterial and insecticidal effects against <i>S. frugiperda</i> neonates under laboratory conditions. Foliar application of <i>Bacillus</i> sp. Esh39 caused the highest mortality rate (65%), followed by <i>Bacillus tequilensis</i> R39 (60%). However, this method did not significantly enhance plant height or chlorophyll content. The potential of these native <i>Bacillus</i> strains warrants further investigation to improve biological control via endophytic mediation. Our findings provide valuable insights into the bacterial diversity and functionality of mangrove ecosystems and pave the way for innovative, sustainable insect management strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/12/1057colonizationendophyte bacteriainsecticidal activitymarine <i>Bacillus</i> strainsthe fall armyworm
spellingShingle Hayam M. Fathy
Mona Awad
Nawal A. Alfuhaid
El-Desoky S. Ibrahim
Moataz A. M. Moustafa
Ayatollah S. El-Zayat
Isolation and Characterization of <i>Bacillus</i> Strains from Egyptian Mangroves: Exploring Their Endophytic Potential in Maize for Biological Control of <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>
Biology
colonization
endophyte bacteria
insecticidal activity
marine <i>Bacillus</i> strains
the fall armyworm
title Isolation and Characterization of <i>Bacillus</i> Strains from Egyptian Mangroves: Exploring Their Endophytic Potential in Maize for Biological Control of <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>
title_full Isolation and Characterization of <i>Bacillus</i> Strains from Egyptian Mangroves: Exploring Their Endophytic Potential in Maize for Biological Control of <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>
title_fullStr Isolation and Characterization of <i>Bacillus</i> Strains from Egyptian Mangroves: Exploring Their Endophytic Potential in Maize for Biological Control of <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>
title_full_unstemmed Isolation and Characterization of <i>Bacillus</i> Strains from Egyptian Mangroves: Exploring Their Endophytic Potential in Maize for Biological Control of <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>
title_short Isolation and Characterization of <i>Bacillus</i> Strains from Egyptian Mangroves: Exploring Their Endophytic Potential in Maize for Biological Control of <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i>
title_sort isolation and characterization of i bacillus i strains from egyptian mangroves exploring their endophytic potential in maize for biological control of i spodoptera frugiperda i
topic colonization
endophyte bacteria
insecticidal activity
marine <i>Bacillus</i> strains
the fall armyworm
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/12/1057
work_keys_str_mv AT hayammfathy isolationandcharacterizationofibacillusistrainsfromegyptianmangrovesexploringtheirendophyticpotentialinmaizeforbiologicalcontrolofispodopterafrugiperdai
AT monaawad isolationandcharacterizationofibacillusistrainsfromegyptianmangrovesexploringtheirendophyticpotentialinmaizeforbiologicalcontrolofispodopterafrugiperdai
AT nawalaalfuhaid isolationandcharacterizationofibacillusistrainsfromegyptianmangrovesexploringtheirendophyticpotentialinmaizeforbiologicalcontrolofispodopterafrugiperdai
AT eldesokysibrahim isolationandcharacterizationofibacillusistrainsfromegyptianmangrovesexploringtheirendophyticpotentialinmaizeforbiologicalcontrolofispodopterafrugiperdai
AT moatazammoustafa isolationandcharacterizationofibacillusistrainsfromegyptianmangrovesexploringtheirendophyticpotentialinmaizeforbiologicalcontrolofispodopterafrugiperdai
AT ayatollahselzayat isolationandcharacterizationofibacillusistrainsfromegyptianmangrovesexploringtheirendophyticpotentialinmaizeforbiologicalcontrolofispodopterafrugiperdai