BioControl (2020) 65, 353-362

Emily Mesquita, Allan F. Marciano, Amanda R.C. Corval, Jéssica Fiorotti, Thaís A. Corrêa, Simone Quinelato, Vânia R.E.P. Bittencourt and Patrícia S. Golo (2020)
Efficacy of a native isolate of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae against larval tick outbreaks under semifield conditions
BioControl 65 (3), 353-362
Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) persistence in the soil and its impact on Rhipicephalus microplus Canestrini (Acari: Ixodidae) larval recovery in a semifield trial after the treatment of female ticks. Nine strains from the genus Metarhizium Sorokin were isolated from the soil in Brazil and taxonomically classified using the ef1-α gene. The thermotolerance of the strains and their in vitro virulence to tick larvae were tested. One M. anisopliae strain was selected and formulated for the semifield test. The presence of M. anisopliae in the soil ranged from 0.4 × 10⁵ to 1.4 × 10⁵ colony forming units per gram of soil after the treatment during the five months of the survey. The fungus-treated grass pots had significantly fewer larvae than did the control pots. Evidence was gathered about the soil persistence of a native M. anisopliae strain and its efficacy in the biological control of ticks.
(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): Vânia Rita Elias Pinheiro Bittencourt, Patricia Silva Golo

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Rhipicephalus microplus
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Rhipicephalus microplus