Impact of Commercial Beauveria bassiana Application on Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L.) Insect Pests, Pollinator Densities and Some Growth and Fruit Parameters
NJE Vol. 40: 167-178, 2024
DOI.10.36108/NJE/4202/04.0151
Oguniyi, B.A.1, Filani, C.O.1, Pitan, O.R.1 and Kehinde, I.A2
1Department of Crop Protection, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
2Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Abstract
A field trial was conducted in 2021 and 2022 at the Experimental Farm, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta to establish the bio-efficacy of Beauveria bassiana on the abundance of pests, beneficial insects, agronomic characteristics, storability and fruit quality of cucumber. The experiment was designed using a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement in a Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times. The treatment comprised four Beauveria bassiana (FIXITGA ™) concentrations (8.00, 6.00, 4.00 and 2.00 kg/ha) applied at three different spray frequencies (spray once a-week, once in two-weeks and once in three-weeks) along with the untreated control. The results indicated that the densities of Aulacophora hilaris, Epilachna chrysomelina, and Bactrocera cucurbitae were significantly reduced in B. bassiana-sprayed plots compared to unsprayed ones in both seasons. Higher densities (6.33 and 5.33) of Apis mellifera were observed in plots sprayed at 8.00 kg/ha once a week than the unsprayed plots (2.00 and 0.33). The agronomic traits significantly increased when B. bassiana was sprayed once a- week at a concentration of 8.00 kg/ha compared to other treatments. At 8.00, 6.00, and 4.00 kg/ha of B. bassiana applied once a week, cucumber fruits showed an extended shelf life, lasting between 13 to 15 days before deterioration. In contrast, cucumber fruits sprayed at 2.00 kg/ha and untreated plots deteriorated faster, within 1 to 3 days. Furthermore, the nutritional composition of fruits from the untreated plots was comparable to that of fruits from the treated plots.
Keywords: Beauveria bassiana, cucumber, fruit quality insect pests, pollinators.