Hewitt, KGHofmann, RWBall, OJLuo, DFinch, SCBryant, RachealPopay, AJ2024-10-032024-08-2020242024-07-011526-498X39162038 (pubmed)https://hdl.handle.net/10182/17689BACKGROUND: Fertiliser applications are well-established tools in pasture-based agricultural landscapes. This study focuses on the impact of phosphorus (P) fertiliser on grass grub (Costelytra giveni), a major pasture pest. This research investigates the interplay between P, plant growth, and grass grub fitness in Epichloë endophyte-infected perennial ryegrass (Epichloë sp. LpTG-3 strain AR37) and meadow fescue infected with E. uncinata (strain MaxR; AR1017), alongside their endophyte-free counterparts. In a glasshouse trial, plants were grown in P-enriched soil with varying Olsen P levels (9, 18, 28 or 78 mg L¯¹), and grass grubs were introduced. Their survival and weight gain, and plant performance were measured. In a bioassay, grass grubs were placed in specimen vials with P-enriched soils (Olsen P levels 9, 18, 28 and 78 mg L¯¹) and provided with identical plant material to assess their diet consumption and weight gain. RESULTS: In the glasshouse trial, results highlighted a notable decrease in the survival of grass grub on plants infected with MaxR endophyte, but not with AR37, as well as increasing soil Olsen P levels in both plant species. While grass grub decreased plant performance at the low Olsen P level (9 mg L¯¹), this effect diminished with increasing P. Likewise, results from the bioassay showed a decrease in diet consumption with increasing soil Olsen P levels. In both trials increasing Olsen P levels correlated with diminished grass grub performance, revealing a nuanced relationship between soil fertility and pest dynamics. CONCLUSION: The study underscores the pivotal role of selected Epichloë endophyte–grass associations in mitigating grass grub damage across varying phosphorus levels. This study highlights the potential to integrate P applications for sustainable pest control against grass grub. Further field trials are required to validate these findings.15 pagesPrint-Electronicen© 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.AR37Festuca pratensisintegrated pest managementLolium perenneMaxRplant growthplant–insect interactionsAnimalsFestucaLoliumPhosphorusFertilizersEpichloeGenetic FitnessEndophytesJournal Article10.1002/ps.83691526-4998ANZSRC::310803 Plant cell and molecular biologyANZSRC::300404 Crop and pasture biochemistry and physiologyANZSRC::300804 Horticultural crop protection (incl. pests, diseases and weeds)ANZSRC::300409 Crop and pasture protection (incl. pests, diseases and weeds)ANZSRC::310804 Plant developmental and reproductive biologyANZSRC::3004 Crop and pasture productionANZSRC::3109 ZoologyANZSRC::4104 Environmental managementhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Attribution