An-Najah National University

An-Najah Blogs

 

 
  • Bookmark and Share Email
     
  • Saturday, March 1, 2003
  • Production and testing of novel formulations of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschinkoff) Sorokin (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes)
  • Published at:Not Found
  • The conidia of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae were formulated in an invert emulsion (water-in-oil formulation) with a coconut/soybean oil preparation providing the most stable emulsion layer (93%) and lowest viscosity (27 cps). The fungal conidia remained viable in the formulation for 30.8 months with a 50% reduction (half-life) in conidial viability after 4.6 months at 20±1°C. In comparison, dry non-formulated conidia held under the same conditions were non-viable after 2 months, with a half-life of 0.5 month. The invert emulsion remained stable throughout the study. Under laboratory conditions, the fungus, at a concentration of 5×106 conidia/ml, killed nymphs of the tobacco whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, within 3 days of treatment, with fungal outgrowth and sporulation observed on the cadavers within 4–5 days. Whitefly mortality ranged from 66.7 to 100% under laboratory conditions. When tested under field conditions, whitefly mortality ranged from 30.0% to 92.2% on eggplants. The fungus, at a concentration of 5×106 conidia/ml also killed nymphs and adults of the red spidermite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus, within 3–4 days of treatment under laboratory conditions, with fungal outgrowth and sporulation observed on the cadavers within 5 days. Spidermite mortality ranged from 58.3% to 93.3% under laboratory conditions. When tested in the field, spidermite mortality ranged from 25.9% to 90.6% on eggplants. For both pest species, significantly higher levels of mortality were obtained when formulated conidia were compared to the non-formulated conidia or the control treatments, whether tested under laboratory or field conditions. When the formulation blank was applied as control treatment, mortality was not significantly different from the distilled water-treated controls. The fungus thus shows great potential for management of both pests and activity appears to be enhanced when applied in a coconut/soybean oil formulation.

     

    Crop Protection, Volume 22, Issue 2, March 2003, Pages 415-422

     
  • Bookmark and Share Email
     
Leave a Comment

Attachments

  • No Attachments Found for this Article

PROFILE

Yaqoub Ahmed Mahmoud Batteh
 
Show Full ProfileEnglish CV
 
 

PUBLISHED ARTICLES

 
Please do not email me if you do not know me
Please do not e-mail me if you do not know me