Letters in Applied Microbiology (2012) 54, 487-493

S. Niassy, N.K. Maniania, S. Subramanian, L.M. Gitonga, D.M. Mburu, D. Masiga and S. Ekesi (2012)
Selection of promising fungal biological control agent of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)
Letters in Applied Microbiology 54 (6), 487-493
Abstract: Aims: Larval stages of Frankliniella occidentalis are known to be refractory to fungal infection compared with the adult stage. The objective of this study was to identify promising fungal isolate(s) for the control of larval stages of F. occidentalis.
Methods and Results: Ten isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae and eight of Beauveria bassiana were screened for virulence against second-instar larvae of F. occidentalis. Conidial production and genetic polymorphism were also investigated. Metarhizium anisopliae isolates ICIPE 7, ICIPE 20, ICIPE 69 and ICIPE 665 had the shortest LT₅₀ values of 8·0-8·9 days. ICIPE 69, ICIPE 7 and ICIPE 20 had the lowest LC₅₀ values of 1·1 × 10⁷, 2·0 × 10⁷ and 3·0 × 10⁷ conidia ml⁻¹, respectively. Metarhizium anisopliae isolate ICIPE 69 produced significantly more conidia than M. anisopliae isolates ICIPE 7 and ICIPE 20. Internally transcribed spacers sequences alignment showed differences in nucleotides composition, which can partly explain differences in virulence.
Conclusion: These results coupled with the previous ones on virulence and field efficacy against other species of thrips make M. anisopliae isolate ICIPE 69 a good candidate.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Metarhizium anisopliae isolate ICIPE 69 can be suggested for development as fungus-based biopesticide for thrips management.
(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, Sevgan Subramanian, Sunday Ekesi

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.
	Frankliniella occidentalis
Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogen)	Frankliniella occidentalis
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Frankliniella occidentalis