Isolation of Bacillus Megaterium From Aphis Pomi (Homoptera: Aphididae) and Assessment of Its Pathogenicity

Abstract

Bacillus megaterium isolates were recovered from the green apple aphid, Aphis pomi De Geer, collected from apple trees in the Samsun province of Turkey. The lethality of nine B. megaterium isolates was assayed on A. pomi at 28-30°C. The isolates caused between 92% and 100% mortality within one week, with no significant differences amongst them. In contrast, there was a significant difference between all isolates and the control at P<0.05. The highest death rate (100%) was induced by the bacterial isolate No. 23 (Bmin23). After bacterial application on A. pomi, there was a slowing down of movement, cessation of feeding and development of a brown-black discoloration in diseased aphids within three days. Death followed within five days.