ARS | Publication request: PATHOGENICITY IN THE LABORATORY OF THE FUNGUS LECANICILLIUM MUSCARIUM AGAINST PHYTOPHAGOUS MITES

Submitted to: Brazilian Entomological Congress Abstracts and Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 26, 2004
Publication Date: October 5, 2004
Citation: Mineiro, J.L., Raga, A., Leite, L.G., Humber, R.A., Sato, M.E., Nicastro, R.L. 2004. Pathogenicity in the laboratory of the fungus lecanicillium muscarium against phytophagous mites. Brazilian Entomological Congress Abstracts and Proceedings, Sept. 2004, Gramado, Brazil. p.176.

Technical Abstract: This work presents the first demonstration of LECANICILLIUM MUSCARIUM against mites on coffee plants (COFFEA ARABICAI L. cv. Mundo Novo) collected in Jeriquara (Sao Paulo). The pathogenicity of this fungus was tested against three different developmental stages (eggs, nymphs, and adults) of three species of mites BREVIPALPUS PHOENICIS (Geijskes) (Tenuipalpidae), OLIGONYCHUS ILICIS (McGregor) and TETRANYCHUS URTICAE (Koch) (Tetranychidae). Bioassays using B. PHOENICIS and O. ILICIS were done on coffee leaves and using T. urticae, on leaves of common jackbean (CANAVALILA ENSIFORMIS). A total of 40 bioassay setups were used, 20 for controls and 20 with LECANICILLIUM. For each setup, 20 females or nymphs were used. To obtain eggs, 5 adult female adults of O. ILICIS or T. URTICAE were put on leaves for a maximum of 24 hours or, for B. PHOENICIS, a maximum of 48 hours. Tests against B. PHOENICIS adults and nymphs yielded mortalities above 80% 7 days after application, and of 90% against eggs after 20 days. Our tests with adults and nymphs of O. ILICIS and T. URTICAE yielded 100% mortalities at 5 days post-application and 90% against eggs at 7 days post-treatment. Adult females of B. PHOENICIS treated with the fungus produced no eggs whereas adult females of O. ILICIS and T. URTICAE were unable to oviposit except on the first day after fungal treatment.