The armyworm (CLA) causes major damage to cereal crops, particularly maize. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, recent data indicates that the regions currently most affected are Sud-Ubangi, Nord-Ubangi, Lualaba, Kasaï Central, Haut-Katanga and the Kivus. In this study, the level of CLA infestation was assessed as a function of altitude and cropping associations in Nyiragongo Territory. Observations were made in 10 fields, taking altitude into account. The results indicate significant variations in incidence and severity as a function of altitude (p = 0.01), but not in the equivalent density coefficient (p > 0.05). Thus, it appears that increasing altitude plays a crucial role in reducing the spatial distribution and spread of the armyworm. It should be stressed that other factors, such as variations in the availability of host species and natural enemies, can also have a significant influence on the level of infestation. The role of crop association in reducing CLA population density is also discussed.

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are promising biological control agents for managing agricultural pests, like Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm), which is a major threat to maize production. The present study used morphological and molecular techniques to determine the occurrences and distribution of EPF associated with S. frugiperda in maize farms. Field surveys were conducted across diverse agroecological zones, collecting soil samples, insect cadavers in Morogoro (Morogoro rural), Ruvuma (Songea District), and Kilimanjaro (Mwanga District). Morphological identification involved culturing fungal isolates on Potato Dextrose Agar, followed by microscopic examination of conidial and hyphal structures. The isolates were also observed under the microscope for microscopic morphological features. Molecular characterization was performed using PCR amplification and sequencing of the ITS region of rDNA to enable precise taxonomic identification and phylogenetic analysis. A total of 24 EPF isolates were obtained, with their sources categorized into maize farms and cadavers of S. frugiperda. The comparison of isolates using a compound microscope showed that some isolates had a dark olive/brown color, covered with wooly tufts and smooth surfaces, whereas some showed a bright-yellow/green color, covered with thick short piles like cotton on the sides and a rough surface. Molecular analyses confirmed the identity of EPF isolates and revealed high genetic diversity within populations. The findings revealed the occurrence of EPF species like Metarhizium anisopliae, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fimeti, Talaromyces sp, Cladosprium oxysporium, and Cladosporium cladosporiodes. The evolutionary analysis of the sequences also revealed that the isolates belong to two main clades with subclades, indicating the widespread diversity among them. This study is among the few that integrate morphological and molecular approaches for comprehensive EPF characterization. The insights gained provide a foundation for developing location-specific biocontrol strategies against S. frugiperda in maize farming, contributing to sustainable pest management and enhanced crop productivity.

Introduction: This study investigates the role of genetically modified (GM) crops in reducing pesticide dependence in sub-Saharan Africa, with an emphasis on yield benefits, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic implications. Although GM crops such as Bt cotton, pest-resistant cowpea, and pest-resistant maize have demonstrated potential to lower pesticide use and increase crop yield, their widespread adoption remains limited across sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, this study examines the barriers to the adoption of GM crops and the strategies that can enhance their uptake for more sustainable and resilient crop production in the region. Methodology: Using a systematic review approach, the impact of GM crops on pesticide use, farm productivity, and the well-being of farmers was evaluated across three focus countries: Nigeria, South Africa, and Burkina Faso. Cross-country comparisons were conducted to highlight the lessons learned from successful and stalled GM crop programs, such as Nigeria’s Bt cotton and cowpea rollout, South Africa’s adoption of GM maize, and the suspension of Bt cotton cultivation in Burkina Faso. The key regulatory, socio-cultural, and economic factors influencing adoption were identified, alongside the potential environmental benefits of reduced pesticide application. Results: Findings show that while GM crops can significantly reduce pesticide usage and production costs, challenges such as public hesitancy, regulatory hurdles, limited farmer awareness, and concerns about trade restrictions hinder wider uptake. In climates where GM crops have been successfully adopted, it was demonstrated that supportive policy frameworks, transparent biosafety regulations, established risk assessment platforms, and community engagement can increase farmer confidence and speed up GM crop adoption. Conclusion: For GM crops to be speedily adopted for sustainable crop protection in sub-Saharan Africa, governments and stakeholders must strengthen biosafety systems, invest in farmer education, and facilitate public–private partnerships. Furthermore, pilot projects tailored to local conditions and the promotion of genetic literacy among both politicians and the public are crucial in removing the contradictory attitudes towards GM crops and further enhancing uptake, helping the region transition towards lower pollution and more resilient agricultural systems.

Different application frequencies of tubli root extracts, Derris elliptica, against the diamondback moth (DBM) were assessed to determine the impact on the growth and yield of pechay, Brassica rapa crop. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design, with four treatments replicated three times. The application started a day after transplanting. The treatment of the extract given seven times at 3-day intervals after transplanting (T1 ) significantly resulted in lower mean DBM populations of 1.90, 0.70, and 0.30 at 7, 21, and 28 days after transplanting, respectively. Relative to plants applied with tubli root extracts four times at 6-day intervals after transplanting (T2 ), the mean reductions of the moth were 2.50, 0.96, and 0.83, respectively. It was evident that plants treated with tubli root extracts seven times at 3-day intervals (T1 ) were significant in incurring the minor damage of only 16% at harvest. The treatments helped obtain good crops (98.36 g/hill), a high yield (7.17 kg/plot), and a higher percentage of marketable plants (91.77%/plot) compared to other treatments of the extract with lesser frequencies, like four times at 6-day intervals after transplanting (T2 ), three times at 9-day intervals after transplanting (T3 ), and plants without treatment (T0 ). Overall, the growth of pechay was not affected by the different application frequencies of tubli root extract.

Intercropping and biopesticide application are two universal practices that can reduce reliance on chemicals and synthetically produced pesticides; additionally, they can also enhance biodiversity and promote sustainability. A single-factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Zinnia (Zinnia violacea) as an intercrop, and oriental herb nutrients (OHNs) as an organic biopesticide, in reducing pest incidence and improving the productivity of squash (Cucurbita maxima). The experiment was conducted using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), with four treatments: Control (T1), squash + OHN application (T2), squash + zinnia intercropping (T3), and squash + zinnia intercropping + OHN application (T4). The analysis focused on investigating the natural enemies present as well as the number of pests and their degree of damage and yield component. The results show that, intercropping Zinnias with squash was significantly effective in reducing pest incidence and attracting insects beneficial for pollination and fruit production in squash. Additionally, the combination of Zinnia intercropping and oriental herb nutrient (OHN) application consistently yielded the best results in controlling pests that attack squash, thereby increasing productivity. The findings demonstrated significant results on the efficacy of Zinnia–squash intercropping and OHN application as a method of biological control conservation and provided crucial insights into the practical, low-cost and sustainable pest management of squash production.

Sweetpotato weevil (Cylas formicarius F.) is one of the threats of sweetpotatoes in the Philippines. Controlling this pest is important to increase the production of sweetpotatoes. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the virulence of four local Heterorhabditis indica (MBC, ZBC, GBC and VSU) isolates against the different stages of sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius Fabricius (Coleoptera: Brentidae), evaluated under laboratory conditions. The four EPN isolates being tested in this study revealed that they have the potential to act as biological control agents against Cylas formicarius. The highest percentage mortality was obtained by the MBC isolate with 80.53% and 82.09% in the larval and pupal stage, respectively. On the other hand, the ZBC isolate obtained the highest percentage mortality of 32.76% in the adult stage. Regardless of the EPN concentrations and exposure to time, all of the four isolates were not statistically different.

Collectotrichum gloeosporioides is a highly aggressive fungi species causing diseases in plants throughout the world. In Bangladesh, C. gloeosporioides has been reported to have caused leaf blight disease of Dalbergia sissoo in 2021. Seeds and seedlings of D. sissoo were examined in vitro for their susceptibility to C. gloeosporioides and other two Colletotrichum species, namely C. fragariae and C. siamense. Mycelial agar plugs and spore suspension of the Colletotrichum species were used to inoculate seeds and seedlings of D. sissoo. Susceptibility was measured in terms of pathogen virulence to inoculated seeds and seedlings and data were recorded after 14 and 42 days of observation, respectively. The findings of the study showed that the germination percentage of the inoculated seeds decreased more by C. siamense (45-54%) as compared to C. fragariae (33-49%) and C. gloeosporiodes (45-51%). On the other hand, the mortality rate (%) increased by C. fragariae (~43%) as compared to C. siamense (35%) and C. gloeosporioides (33%). The results revealed that seeds and seedlings of D. sissoo are at risk of infection by C. gloeosporioides. In addition, non-host pathogens such as C. fragariae and C. simense may also pose a serious threat to seeds and seedlings of D. sissoo. This is an important concern regarding the natural regeneration of the tree species in the areas of Bangladesh facing disease.

Sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) is an economically and environmentally important tree species in South-East Asia. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was reported to cause leaf blight disease in D. sissoo in 2021 in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Additionally, C. fragariae and C. siamense were reported to cause disease in Hopea odorata and Dipterocarpus turbinatus in 2021 and 2023, respectively, in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Here, we examined the variation in pathogenicity among the three species of Colletotrichum on detached leaves, twigs and branches of D. sissoo. Mycelial agar plugs of the Colletotrichum species were used to inoculate leaves, twigs, and branches of D. sissoo. The findings of this study demonstrated that C. gloeosporioides developed the highest lesion length (12.91mm) on inoculated leaves as compared to the other two species of Colletotrichum used, while C. siamense was the most virulent fungi species on inoculated twigs and branches in terms of lesion length (58.75mm and 48.36mm) followed by C. fragariae (50.38mm and 37.01mm) and C. gloeosporioides (41.2mm and 26.46mm), respectively. In general, C. siamense was the most virulent fungi species among the tested fungi species. The findings of this study showed that the Colletotrichum species which are not host-specific to D. sissoo may pose a threat to D. sissoo equally in future. Further studies are necessary to understand the spread of these pathogens to tree species in other locations in Bangladesh.

Certain entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), such as Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, are highly pathogenic to arthropod pests and are able to colonize plant tissue as endophytic entomopathogenic fungi (EEPF), thereby requiring more extensive research on potential mycopesticides in rice. In this study, the entomopathogenic fungal (EPF) Beauveria bassiana (2) and Metarhizium anisopliae (3) isolates were artificially inoculated onto rice using the seed immersion technique. The successful colonization of rice by Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae isolates was demonstrated, and the endophytic and direct effects of the EPF against the third instar brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), were assessed. Endophytic colonization of the plant by the EPF was shown by re-isolating the EPF from the leaf lamina and leaf sheath+culm of the rice plant that were not the initial site of inoculation. The results indicated that significant differences (at p=0.05) were obtained in mean % successful re-isolation of the EPF from the leaf lamina and leaf sheath + culm at 21 and 28 days after inoculation (DAI). Interestingly, DNA sequence data revealed that the recovered fungal isolates from EEPF-inoculated rice tissues showed 100% nucleotide similarity with the B. bassiana and M. anisopliae published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), indicating successful endophytic colonization of all the EPF in rice seedlings. Exposure of third instar BPH nymphs to 21-day-old EPF-inoculated rice seedlings resulted in 61-74% mortality recorded for 7 days compared to uninoculated rice plants. In conclusion, this research provides evidence, for the first time, of the endophytic action of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae against the third instar N. lugens and the ability of the EPF-B. bassiana and M. anisopliae to colonize the internal tissues of O. sativa plants.

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are promising biological control agents against pink pineapple mealybug (PPMB), Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), an important insect pest of pineapple. Three EPFs, namely, Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria sp., and Lecanicillium lecanii, were tested against PPMB crawlers and adults in a laboratory. Methods of EPF application were direct spraying on insects and pineapple leaf and dipping with a single dosage of a 1 mL suspension of 1x10⁸ spores/mL. Mortality rates were determined at 1 to 10 days after treatment (DAT). The results indicated that the three EPFs showed pathogenicity against the PPMB at varying degrees. At 10 DAT, a 100% mortality rate was observed for the treatment of M. anisopliae on all application methods and PPMB stages, followed by L. lecanii ( 55.91%) and Beauveria sp. ( 27.98 %). No significant difference in the percentage of infection was observed between PPMB crawlers and adults. Moreover, a slightly higher percentage of infection was observed in the spraying of the conidial suspension at 1x 10⁸ but this was not statistically significant compared to the leaf dipping method. This study suggests that among the EPFs used, M. anisopliae has the potential to be used as a biological control against PPMB.