Biocontrol potential of bacteria associated with Asian walnut moth Erschoviella musculana Erschoff (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) on walnut pests

Şalvarci H. B., Gencer D., ESKİ A., Bozkurt V., DEMİR İ.

International Microbiology, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s10123-025-00674-3
  • Journal Name: International Microbiology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, Environment Index, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, MEDLINE, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, DIALNET
  • Keywords: Culturable bacteria, Entomopathogen, Virulence, Walnut pests
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the culturable bacterial flora of Erschoviella musculana, which causes damage to leaves, shoots, branches, trunk, and fruits of walnut trees, in order to find a possible microbial control agent against walnut pests. In this study, a total of 11 bacteria were isolated from live and dead larvae of E. musculana and identified based on their morphological, biochemical, and molecular characteristics. Based on these results, the isolates were identified as Bacillus toyonensis EMB1, Bacillus toyonensis EMB3, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila EMO6, Stenotrophomonas rhizophila EM8, Delftia tsuruhatensis EM14, Acinetobacter modestus EM20, Lelliottia amnigena EM21, Bacillus toyonensis EM22, Pantoea vagans EM37, Pseudomonas alloputida EM42, and Stenotrophomonas geniculata EM43. The biological control potential of these isolates on E. musculana, Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), and Panaphis juglandis (Hemiptera: Callaphididae), which are very important walnut pests, was determined. The results showed that B. toyonensis strain EMB1 had the highest virulence (82%) on the larvae of H. cunea and S. rhizophila strain EM8 had the highest virulence (83%) on the nymphs of P. juglandis. On the other hand, S. geniculata strain EM43 caused 100% mortality on the larvae of E. musculana. The results of this study show that bacteria associated with E. musculana appear to be promising microbial control agents for walnut pests.