Indian Scientists Discover Powerful Native Fungal Strains to Fight the Fall Armyworm
Researchers from the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) have successfully identified potent native strains of Metarhizium rileyi capable of controlling the devastating fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in maize crops. Published in Archives of Microbiology (2025), the study represents a breakthrough in biological pest management for semi-arid regions of India.
The fall armyworm, an invasive pest first detected in India in 2018, has rapidly spread across the country, severely damaging maize and other crops. Farmers in Andhra Pradesh’s scarce rainfall zone (SRZ) have relied heavily on chemical insecticides—leading to pest resistance and environmental contamination.
To develop sustainable alternatives, scientists isolated entomopathogenic fungi from naturally infected caterpillars collected across the SRZ. Molecular and morphological analyses confirmed the isolates as Metarhizium rileyi. Eleven distinct strains were evaluated for their pathogenicity against fall armyworm larvae using varying conidial concentrations.
Among them, two isolates—IARI-MR1 and RR—showed exceptional virulence, with LC₅₀ values as low as 1.0 × 10⁶ and 5.5 × 10⁶ conidia/mL, respectively. These strains achieved up to 97.8% mortality in bioassays, far outperforming other isolates. Molecular characterization using ITS rDNA sequencing confirmed their genetic distinctness and phylogenetic relationship to other global M. rileyi strains.
The findings suggest that these native fungal isolates are well-adapted to semi-arid Indian agro-climates and could form the basis for locally tailored biopesticide formulations. Researchers recommend further field trials to assess performance under real conditions and integration into pest-management frameworks.
This discovery highlights the promise of regionally adapted microbial control agents in replacing chemical pesticides—paving the way for eco-friendly, sustainable maize cultivation in India.
Reference
Gundreddy, R. R., Reddy, B. S., Jayanth, B. V, Shashikala, M., Saw, G., Udaykumar, E., Kamil, D., Alzahrani, F. A., Udavant, R. N., Ashraf, S., & Paul, B. (2025). Molecular identification and virulence assessment of Metarhizium rileyi isolates against fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Archives of Microbiology, 207(12), 313. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-025-04506-w
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