Testing the efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi in controlling green peach aphid in potatoes

As a high-value commodity crop, damage done to potatoes by insects can have significant economic implications, including reductions to crop yield and marketable quality. Insect pests such as green peach aphid (GPA), Myzus persicae (Sulzer) continue to pose a threat as a major pathogen vector to potato, including Potato Virus Y. Traditionally, conventional management of GPA rely almost exclusively on applications of synthetic chemicals. While chemical insecticides play significant roles in controlling insect pest numbers, overreliance on chemicals can result in secondary pest outbreaks and insecticide resistance. With the looming threat of losing neoticonitoids as an option to insect management, it is imperative to consider alternative management strategies and tools that could be used to enhance insect management. In this study, we tested the efficacy of the commercial formulation of the entomopathogenic fungus (EPF), Beauveria bassiana(Balsamo) Vuillemin, in controlling GPA on potato. We also explored the compatibility of EPF with fungicides to understand their possible integration into standard pest management practices. Individually caged potato plants (at tuber initiation stage) infested with 10 adult aphids were sprayed with fungicides. Beauveria bassiana prepared at recommended rates were then sprayed at different time points after fungicide treatment. This was repeated twice. The number of aphids alive 3, 5, and 7 DAT will be counted to assess the efficacy of EPF applied alone or in combination with fungicides in controlling GPA. In the long term, the project will benefit potato IPM by offering alternative tools that can be used for insect pest management.