Potential of a Biofertilizer to Control Peregrinus maidis (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), an Insect Vector of Maize Mosaic Alphanucleorhabdovirus

<span lang="IN">The use of biofertilizers in combination with synthetic fertilizer has been effective in managing the population of <em>Peregrinus maidis</em>. The impact of a biofertilizer was assessed through the response of <em>P. maidis</em>. Corn plants were planted in potted soil with four different treatments. Plant defensin expression was determined using semi-quantitative PCR analysis, while lugensin </span><span lang="EN-US">expression</span><span lang="IN"> in insects was analyzed using two-step semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Defensin is shown to be expressed in corn upon insect infestation on both biofertilizer </span><span lang="IN">Mykoplus and a combination of urea and complete fertilizers. The plants treated with the combination of urea and complete fertilizer had similar numbers of insects (25%) to plants treated with biofertilizer alone. It was worth noting that although female macropters preferred biofertilizer-treated plants for oviposition, their preference in plants treated with urea and complete biofertilizer is not significantly different. Interestingly, the corn plants treated with biofertilizer plus urea had a similar number of oviposited eggs among the treatments (P=0.8166). This research presents novel results as it explores the potential benefits of using biofertilizers as a biocontrol method to manage the population of insect vectors that transmit a viral phytopathogen affecting corn.</span>