Biocontrol of invasive pheretimoid earthworms using Beauveria bassiana.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Invasive species cause enormous costs of over $120 billion to the U.S. economy. Among biological invasions, the invasion by pheretimoid earthworms has gone relatively unnoticed and their invasion imposes yet unknown damage on USA agriculture and horticulture. The main dispersal is with horticultural goods such as plant material and composts. Pheretimoids affect commercially important hardwood forest. With no chemical agents currently certified for earthworm control nor any best horticultural practices, slowing the invasion is difficult.

Methods

In this study we measured the efficacy of a commercial entomopathogenic fungal isolate of B. bassiana (BotaniGard^®) to kill pheretimoid earthworms under greenhouse conditions. Four treatments of B. bass

SUBMITTER: Nouri-Aiin M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8035901 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature