ARS | Publication request: COMPATIBILITY AND POTENTIAL SYNERGISM BETWEEN THE ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGUS BEAUVERIA BASSIANA AND THE INSECT GROWTH REGULATOR AZADIRACHTIN FOR CONTROL OF THE GREENHOUSE PESTS MYZUS PERSICAE AND APHIS GOSSYPII

Submitted to: Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 18, 2005
Publication Date: August 7, 2005
Citation: Filotas, M., Sanderson, J., Wraight, S.P. 2005. Compatibility and potential synergism between the entomopathogenic fungus beauveria bassiana and the insect growth regulator azadirachtin for control of the greenhouse pests myzus persicae and aphis gossypii. Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting Proceedings. 38:81.

Technical Abstract: One factor limiting the ability of entomopathogenic fungi to control rapidly developing insects such as aphids is the fact that frequent molting allows them to effectively remove fungal propagules before they can penetrate the cuticle, thus dramatically reducing their susceptibility to infection. One possible means of overcoming this is the use of fungi in combination with low doses of insect growth regulators, which interfere with molting and thus may provide fungal spores with more time to penetrate the host. We investigated this potential synergism and general compatibility between the neem-based insect growth regulator azadirachtin and the commercial Beauveria bassiana strain GHA against the two most common aphid pests of U.S. greenhouses, the green peach aphid and the melon aphid. In a series of laboratory assays, B. bassiana was applied to first-instar nymphs of each aphid alone, in combination with, and 1, 24, 48, and 72 hours after application of azadirachtin. Preliminary results suggest that all combinations of Beauveria and azadirachtin caused higher levels of infection than did application of fungal spores alone, although effects were more pronounced for the melon aphid.