Data TB

This dataset was produced after screening dead and diseased pod borer (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae collected from Tunisia for native entomopathogenic bacteria. Eight bacteria, named Hr1 to Hr8 were isolated from <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i> Hübner dead and diseased larvae collected from chilli plots belonging to small farmers. The bacterial isolates were characterized by macroscopic and microscopic observations and 16S rRNA sequencing. Hr1, Hr2, Hr4, Hr5, Hr6 and Hr8 were identified as <i>Bacillus sp</i>.<i>,</i> Hr3 as <i>Staphylococcus sp</i>., and Hr7 as <i>Enterobacter</i>. Their insecticidal activity was evaluated against third-instar larvae of <i>H. armigera</i>. One bacterial isolate ̶ Hr1 ̶ showed an important insecticidal potential against <i>H. armigera</i> larvae, causing 60% larval mortality after 4 days of treatment. Based on further characterization studies, Hr1 was identified as <i>Bacillus thuringiensis </i>genomovar<i> cytolyticus</i> following macroscopic and microscopic observations, Biolog biochemical test and multi-locus sequence analyses studies based on sequencing of seven housekeeping genes.<br>