<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">In 2011, the General Directorate of State Forests in Poland managed 669 forest nurseries on the total area of 2411 ha that produced forest tree seedlings bare root systems, hence vulnerable to <italic>Melolontha</italic> spp. white grubs. Up to date, no chemical or biological plant protection product for control of cockchafer grubs in forests has been registered in Poland. The study was carried out with the aim to evaluate the efficacy of a biocontrol product Bovecol with BP strain of B<italic>eauveria brongniartii</italic> on sterilized wheat grain in control of <italic>Melolontha</italic> spp. white grubs in forest nurseries, established on acidic soils (with pH analogous to that of forest soils) as well as on those alkaline. The active substance of Bovecol was 108 fungal conidia per 1g of the product. Study plots were established in 3 bareroot nurseries, situated in the areas with different soil reaction values and abundant populations of <italic>Melolontha</italic> spp. white grubs (assessed before Bovecol treatments). The product was applied against L1 larvae (rates in the Czerniawka and Bałtów nurseries: 120 kg/ha and 240 kg/ha) and against L2 larvae (the Iłki nursery: 240 kg/ha). Grub population numbers were assessed 2, 3 and 4 months after the treatments. Application of Bovecol against L1 into the soil with neutral reaction (pH 6.8) caused the reduction of white grub numbers in 2 months, down to the threshold recommended by the <italic>Instruction of the protection of forests</italic> (mandatory guidelines for the protection of Poland’s State Forests), i.e. less than 1 grub/sampling pit. Bovecol treatment against L1 cockchafer larvae into acidic soil (pH 4.8) had no statistically significant effect on the reduction of grub population numbers, even 4 months after product application. Bovecol treatment against L2 larvae applied into the soil with medium pH value (5.3) gave poorer results when compared to the soil with pH 6.8, but considerably better – when compared to the soil with pH 4.8. The selection of a fungal strain with insecticidal properties against soil insect pests should include the evaluation of strain requirements with regard to soil pH range – optimal for germination, development and growth of a given strain.</abstract>

In 2011, the General Directorate of State Forests in Poland managed 669 forest nurseries on the total area of 2411 ha that produced forest tree seedlings bare root systems, hence vulnerable to Melolontha spp. white grubs. Up to date, no chemical or biological plant protection product for control of cockchafer grubs in forests has been registered in Poland. The study was carried out with the aim to evaluate the efficacy of a biocontrol product Bovecol with BP strain of Beauveria brongniartii on sterilized wheat grain in control of Melolontha spp. white grubs in forest nurseries, established on acidic soils (with pH analogous to that of forest soils) as well as on those alkaline. The active substance of Bovecol was 108 fungal conidia per 1g of the product. Study plots were established in 3 bareroot nurseries, situated in the areas with different soil reaction values and abundant populations of Melolontha spp. white grubs (assessed before Bovecol treatments). The product was applied against L1 larvae (rates in the Czerniawka and Bałtów nurseries: 120 kg/ha and 240 kg/ha) and against L2 larvae (the Iłki nursery: 240 kg/ha). Grub population numbers were assessed 2, 3 and 4 months after the treatments. Application of Bovecol against L1 into the soil with neutral reaction (pH 6.8) caused the reduction of white grub numbers in 2 months, down to the threshold recommended by the Instruction of the protection of forests (mandatory guidelines for the protection of Poland’s State Forests), i.e. less than 1 grub/sampling pit. Bovecol treatment against L1 cockchafer larvae into acidic soil (pH 4.8) had no statistically significant effect on the reduction of grub population numbers, even 4 months after product application. Bovecol treatment against L2 larvae applied into the soil with medium pH value (5.3) gave poorer results when compared to the soil with pH 6.8, but considerably better – when compared to the soil with pH 4.8. The selection of a fungal strain with insecticidal properties against soil insect pests should include the evaluation of strain requirements with regard to soil pH range – optimal for germination, development and growth of a given strain.

<italic>Beauveria brongniartii</italic> Sacc. (Petch) against <italic>Melolontha</italic> spp. white grubs in forest nurseries with different soil pH

Forest Research Institute, Department of Forest Protection, Sękocin Stary, Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland, phone: 48 22 7150 547, fax: 48 22 7150 557

Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Wójcickiego 1/3, 01-938 Warsaw, Poland

Rol-Eko Sp. z o.o., Pietraszewicza „LOTA” 9/2a, 02-790 Warsaw, Poland

Folia Forestalia Polonica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

 Sacc. (Petch) against  spp. white grubs in forest nurseries with different soil pH

In 2011, the General Directorate of State Forests in Poland managed 669 forest nurseries on the total area of 2411 ha that produced forest tree seedlings bare...

Beauveria brongniartii Sacc. (Petch) against Melolontha spp. white grubs in forest nurseries with different soil pH

Published Online: Mar 07, 2016

Page range: 210 - 217

Received: Sep 28, 2015

Accepted: Nov 26, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ffp-2015-0021

Keywords
forest nurseries, spp. white grubs, soil pH

© 2015 Alicja Sierpińska et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Beauveria brongniartii Sacc. (Petch) against Melolontha spp. white grubs in forest nurseries with different soil pH

Published Online: Mar 07, 2016

Page range: 210 - 217

Received: Sep 28, 2015

Accepted: Nov 26, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ffp-2015-0021

Keywordsforest nurseries, spp. white grubs, soil pH

© 2015 Alicja Sierpińska et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
forest nurseries, spp. white grubs, soil pH