Biocontrol Science and Technology (2023) 33, 383-396

Carlos Alberto Tuão Gava and Beatriz Aguiar Jordão Paranhos (2023)
Combining the virulent Beauveria bassiana (Balsam) Vuillemin LCB289 and nematode strains to control pupae of Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann
Biocontrol Science and Technology 33 (4), 383-396
Abstract: Entomopathogenic fungi (EF) and nematodes (EPN) can infect pupae of C. capitata Wiedemann in the soil, where they are protected from most control measures. This study evaluated infective juvenile (IJs) density to achieve high control efficiency, the residual effect of commercial strains of Heterorhabitidis bacteriophora (Poinar) and Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser), and their combined application with Beauveria bassiana (Balsam) Vuillemin LCB289 on pupae mortality. Applying 10⁶ IJs m^-2 of both EPN species to columns with sandy Yellow Ultsol at laboratory temperature (24.0 ± 2°C) caused pupae mortality higher than 80%. Probit analysis showed that the curves for the EPN species had statistically similar slopes, with LC₅₀ of 3.57 × 10⁶ for H. bacteriophora and 2.12 × 10⁶ for S. carpocapsae. The former showed a median potency 36% higher than H. bacteriophora. Microscope observations showed that infection by both species resulted in the melanization of pupae and no visual differences in the EPN growth in the cadavers. In a long-term experiment in greenhouse conditions (T = 26.5 ± 4.2°C; Ru = 62.7% ± 22.5), a single application of S. carpocapsae in columns with sandy Ultisol showed a residual effect of 21 days, while for H. bacteriophora it was lower than 15 days. Concomitant application of S. carpocapsae and the virulent EF strain B. bassiana LCB289 in columns with sandy soil in a greenhouse experiment in the same conditions (T = 26.5 ± 4.2°C; Ru = 68.5% ± 23.3) increased the median potency of the BCAs, resulting in a lower lethal concentration applied (LC₅₀).
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Carlos Alberto Tuão Gava, Beatriz A.J. Paranhos

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
application technology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ceratitis capitata
Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen)	Ceratitis capitata
Steinernema carpocapsae/Xenorhabdus nematophila (entomopathogen)	Ceratitis capitata