Efficacy of nano-extracted destruxin from Metarhizium anisopliae against Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) under laboratory and store conditions

Abstract: The rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most serious stored grain pests worldwide. Destruxin is a cyclic hexadepsipeptides produced by entomopathogenic and phytopathogenic fungi five amino acids and one hydroxyl acid. The effect of nano-extracted destruxin from Metarhizium anisopliae was evaluated against the rice weevil. Results showed that the mean number of eggs laid/female of S. oryzae significantly decreased to 90.6 ± 2.1 and 41.6 ± 3.1eggs/female when treated with destruxin and nano-destruxin, respectively as compared to 299.6 ± 8.4 eggs/female in the control. When S. oryzae were treated with destruxin and nano-destruxin the percentage of infestations were significantly decreased to 18 % and 4%, respectively, as compared to 99% in the control in the store.