Control of Bemisia tabaci by entomopathogenic fungi isolated from arid soils in Argentina

AGUILERA SAMMARITANO, J.; LOPEZ LASTRA, CLAUDIA; LECLERQUE, ANDREAS; VAZQUEZ, F.; TORO, MARÍA E.; D'ALESSANDRO, C. P.; CUTHBERTSON, A. G. S.; BERNARDO E. LECHNER

BIOCONTROL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016

0958-3157

Entomopathogenic Hypocreales were isolated from arid soils in Argentina usingTenebrio molitor as bait and tested for their biological performance at 30 °C and 45- 65% RH. Conidial germination was tested in three vegetable oils (Sunflower, Olive and Maize) at two concentrations (1 and 10%) to evaluate their compatibility for further liquid formulations. According to radial growth and germination results, we selected 4 isolates to test their pathogenicity against second instar B. tabaci nymphs with the selected oil formulations at 30 °C. CEP381 and CEP401 showed the highest radial growth. Isolates CEP381, CEP401, CEP413 and CEP409 (Metarhizium spp.) had similar germination percentages as compared with water control when germinated on either Sunflower, Olive and or Maize oils at 10% v/v. The highest mortality of B. tabaci were observed for the isolates CEP381 in Sunflower oil and CEP401 in Olive oil. Molecular identification of isolates was performed using ITS4-5 primers. All isolates belong to the Metarhizium core group. Tested isolates could grow and infect B. tabaci nymphs at 30 °C in some of the vegetable oils as carriers, providing new possibilities for IPM of Bemisia tabaci.