ARS | Publication request: GERMINATION OF CONIDIA AND BLASTOSPORES OF THE FUNGAL ENTOMOPATHOGEN PAECILOMYCES FUMOSOROSEUS ON THE CUTICLE OF BEMISIA ARGENTIFOLII, AND ON POTATO DEXTROSE AGAR AND NOBLE AGAR.

Submitted to: British Mycological Society Annual International Symposia Series
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: April 8, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Germination rates of conidia and blastospores of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus were assessed after spraying on the cuticle of 2-3rd instar Bemisia argentifolii, on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and on Noble agar (NA). Some blastospores had germinated at the time of spraying, with 15% germinated on the cuticle at 2 h, 37% at 4 h, and 43% at 8 h. In contrast, conidial germination was 0% at 4h and 31% at 8h. Faster germination of blastospores than of conidia was also observed on PDA and NA. Blastospores were bigger than conidia, and conidia soaked in water for 1.5 h did not differ in size from unsoaked conidia. As days in liquid culture increased, blastospore size remained unchanged. The results suggest that using blastospores as biological control agents in contrast to conidia might be a more efficient way of infecting insects as a result of faster germination rates.