BioControl (2004) 49, 83-94

Susan Dimbi, Nguya K. Maniania, Slawomir A. Lux and Jones M. Mueke (2004)
Effect of constant temperatures on germination, radial growth and virulence of Metarhizium anisopliae to three species of African tephritid fruit flies
BioControl 49 (1), 83-94
Abstract: The effect of temperature on conidial germination, mycelial growth, and susceptibility of adults of three tephritid fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), C. fasciventris (Bezzi) and C. cosyra (Walker) to six isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae were studied in the laboratory. There were significant differences among the isolates in the effect of temperature on both germination and growth. Over 80% of conidia germinated at 20, 25 and 30°C, while between 26 and 67% conidia germinated at 35°C and less than 10% at 15°C within 24 hours. Radial growth was slow at 15°C and 35°C with all of the isolates. The optimum temperature for germination and mycelial growth was 25°C. Mortality caused by the six fungal isolates against the three fruit fly species varied with temperature, isolate, and fruit fly species. Fungal isolates were more effective at 25, 30 and 35°C than at 20°C. The LT₉₀ values decreased with increasing temperature up to the optimum temperature of 30°C. There were significant differences in susceptibility between fly species to fungal infection at all the temperatures tested.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Nguya K. Maniania, Slawomir A. Lux

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ceratitis capitata
	Ceratitis cosyra
	Ceratitis fasciventris
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Ceratitis capitata
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Ceratitis cosyra
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Ceratitis fasciventris