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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #315883
Title: Comparison of aerial conidia and blastospores from two entomopathogenic fungi against Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) under laboratory and greenhouse conditions

Author
item MORALES-REYES, CELSO - Universidad Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro
item MASCARIN, GABRIEL - Embrapa
item Jackson, Mark
item Hall, David
item SANCHEZ-PENA, SERGIO - Universidad Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro
item ARTHUR, STEVEN - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Biocontrol Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2018
Publication Date: 6/20/2018
Citation: Morales-Reyes, C., Mascarin, G., Jackson, M.A., Hall, D.G., Sanchez-Pena, S., Arthur, S. 2018. Comparison of aerial conidia and blastospores from two entomopathogenic fungi against Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Biocontrol Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2018.1487028.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2018.1487028

Interpretive Summary: This study compared the biocontrol efficacy of conidia and blastospores of Beauveria bassiana and Isaria fumosorosea, two fungi currently being used commercially to control insect pests, for control of the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri). Aerial conidia were produced by growing these fungi using solid substrate fermentation while blastospores were produced using liquid culture fermentation methods. Suspensions of aerial conidia and blastospores were sprayed onto leaf surfaces and Asian citrus psyllids were allowed to walk on treated leaves. The aerial conidia and blastospores required attachment to the Asian citrus psyllid in order to infect and kill the insect pest. These studies showed that aerial conidia and blastospores were equally effective in attaching, infecting, and killing Asian citrus psyllids suggesting that the lower cost, liquid culture production method can be used to produce an effective spore form (blastospore) for control of the Asian citrus psyllid.

Technical Abstract: This study compares the insecticidal activity of liquid culture produced blastospores and solid substrate produced aerial conidia of Beauveria bassiana GHA and Isaria fumosorosea ARSEF3581 against Diaphorina citri adults using a spray residue contact bioassay under laboratory conditions. The results revealed that the blastospores of both fungi were as pathogenic and virulent as aerial conidia. Higher concentrations of either fungal propagule resulted in a faster death rate (ST50 = 4 d). Regardless of the type of propagule used, both fungal species inflicted 84–100% mortality by day 8. Furthermore, lethality or mycosis in cadavers was not dependent on the type of propagule infecting the host. These studies highlight the potential use of blastospore formulations of B. bassiana GHA for control of the Asian citrus psyllid.