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Screening and Bioassay of Entomopathogenic Fungi for the Control of Silverleaf Whitefly, Bemisia argentifolli

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Abstract

Isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, Paecilomyces farinosus (Holm ex SF Gray) Brown and Smith and Verticillium lecanii (Zimmermann) Viegas were evaluated for their pathogenicity to adults, eggs, first and third instars of silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolli (Bellows and Perring) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Conidial dilutions were prepared in 0.05% Tween® and leaves treated by immersion in these suspensions. Assessments of nymphal infection were made 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days post-treatment. Infection rates in adults and eggs were made 14 days post-treatment. All isolates were pathogenic to nymphs and adults. None of the isolates were pathogenic to eggs. Isolates L3444 (P. farinosus) and L3009 (B. bassiana) were the most pathogenic to first instars and adults with LC50 and LC90 values of 7.3 × 104 and 3.1 × 106 conidia/ml, and 1.3 × 106 and 1.0 × 107 conidia/ml, respectively. Isolate FR20 (V. lecanii) was the most pathogenic to third instars with LC50 and LC90 values of 4.8 × 103 and 7.4 × 105 conidia/ml, respectively. Results imply that L3444 and L3009 are the most efficient isolates, based on their pathogenicity to first instars and adults. Results are discussed in relation to using fungi for management of silverleaf whitefly in greenhouses.

Résumé

Des isolats de Beauveria bassiana ( Balsamo) Vuillemin, Paecillomyces farinosus (Holm ex SF) Brown et Smith, et Verticillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Viegas ont été évalués quant à leur pathogénicité pour les adultes, les oeufs et les larves du premier et troisième stades de développement de l’aleurode du peuplier, Bemisia argentifolli (Bellows et Perring) (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Les dilutions de conidies étaient préparées dans une solution du Tween 0,05%® et les feuilles traitées par immersion dans ces suspensions. La recherche des nymphes infectées fut effectuée 2,3,5, 7 et 10 jours après le traitement. Le taux d’infection chez les adultes et les oeufs était évalué 14 jours après le traitement. Tous les isolats ont montré un pouvoir pathogène vis-à-vis des nymphes et les adultes mais aucun d’entre eux n’a manifesté de pathogénicité à l’égard des oeufs. Les isolats L3444 (P. farinosus) et L3009 (B. bassiana) étaient les plus pathogènes vis-à-vis des premiers stades de développement et des adultes. A la CL50 et CL90, les concentrations respectives étaient de 7,3 × 104 et de 3,1 × 106 conidies / ml pour les premiers stades, et de 1,3 × 106 et de 1,0 × 107 conidies / ml pour les adultes. L’isolat FR20 (V. lecanii) fut le plus effectif pour nymphes du 3ème stade de développement avec des valeurs respectives de la CL50 et CL90 équivalentes à 4,8 × 103 et 7,4 × 105 conidies / ml. Les résultats suggèrent que, compte tenu de leur pathogénicité vis-à-vis des premiers stades et des adultes, les isolats L3444 et L3009 sont les plus efficaces. Les résultats discutent aussi de l’utilisation des produits fongiques pour le contrôle de l’aleurode du peuplier argenté dans les serres.

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Negasi, A., Parker, B.L. & Brownbridge, M. Screening and Bioassay of Entomopathogenic Fungi for the Control of Silverleaf Whitefly, Bemisia argentifolli. Int J Trop Insect Sci 18, 37–44 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1017/S174275840000744X

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