Selection and molecular identification of specific entomopathogens in South Sulawesi and the pathogenicity to fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda JE. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), known as fall armyworm (FAW), is a wide-scale invasion pest that resulted in crop yield loss and certainly caused critical economic damage. Therefore, several control strategies such as the application of entomopathogen agent to control the population can be applied. The study aimed to designate and identify the candidate entomopathogens fungi (EPF) from South Sulawesi to control FAW. The research was conducted in several stages: field exploration, isolation, purification, bioassay, and morphological or genetical identification of selected fungi. The identification found out that: Sarocladium strictum, Talaromyces purpureogenus, and Aspergillus terreus had significant mortality percentages and incubation time in killing FAW. The highest mortality percentage was obtained in the case of the A. terreus (MLN8) isolate with an average mortality of 83.33