I would like to find out what might have caused the increase in mortality of fall army worms when I mixed Beauveria bassiana and Bacillus thuringiensis and used them as insect pesticides.
Dear Thabitha Thabu Mugala
Entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria (Bt) have different mode of action to cause mortality, therefore, expecte higher mortality when both are applied to the same population . This is the general logic. Both of them are entomopatogenic microorganism, though, I am not quite sure their compatiblity. thus, to answer your question scintifically, their compatability needs to be stidied. And also, their synergic effect should be studied.
Dear Thabitha Thabu Mugala
As reported by various workers it has been noticed that some of the lepidopteran pests have developed resistance against the specific cry proteins, derived from the soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis and thereby reduced its effectiveness. Entomopathogenic fungi are often reported as causing high level of epizootics and when it is combined with Bt products for pest management, better results are being observed. It appears that sub - lethal damage induced by the B. thuringiensis toxin might enhanced the effectiveness of entomopathogenic fungi. It also helps in the process of pathogenesis of the fungi that result in higher mortality rates.
Hello! As someone have mentioned above it depends on some factors.
Some insects, specially lepidopteran larvaes have made different mechanisms to resist the toxins of some entomopathogenic bacterias as Bt. The synergism that you mention is an ecological topic that is not only related Bacterias and fungi it also can occurs in the application of Entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes. Both organisms gain nutrients and that's why the relationship is very important and occurs with a high frequency.
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