Assessment of mosquito larvicidal potency of cyclic lipopeptides produced by Bacillus subtilis strains.

In this study, mosquito larvicidal potency of cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) secreted by two Bacillus subtilis strains were determined. LC50 of the crude CLPs secreted by B. subtilis DM-03 and DM-04 strains against third instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus was 120.0+/-5.0 and 300.0+/-8.0mg/l respectively post 24 h of treatment. Physico-chemical factors such as pH of water, incubation temperature, heating and exposure to sunlight hardly influenced the larvicidal potency of these CLPs. Present study provided the evidence that B. subtilis lipopeptides were safe to Indian major carp Labeo rohita, a non-target aquatic organism. These properties of B. subtilis CLPs can be exploited for the formulation of a safer, novel biopesticide for effective control of mosquito larvae.