Microbial Control: Three groups of fungi against western corn rootworm

Root feeding experiments were performed to determine the effect of different groups of fungi presence in the root, on the feeding behavior of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte larvae (western corn rootworm = WCR). Maize ('Zea mays') plants were inoculated by three different groups of fungi: Endophytic fungi ('Acremonium strictum'); pathogenic fungi ('Fusarium culmorum' & 'Fusarium graminearum') and Mycorrhizal fungi ('Glomus intraradices'). Roots were fed to WCR larvae in experimental test tubes using by a newly adopted method. Three parameters were measured: weight gained by larvae after root feeding; the amount of ingested food and food conversion efficiency (ECI). All these fungi reduced the root feeding of WCR larvae, but in the case of Acremonium and Fusarium the results were not statistically significant. The effect of Mycorrhiza was statistically significant in regard to ingested food. Weight gained by larvae and ECI were higher in control than treatments, but not statistically significant. Results suggest that these fungi can reduce the suitability of roots of maize plants to WCR larvae.