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1 March 2013 Optimization of Pathogenicity Tests for Selection of Native Isolates of Entomopathogenic Fungi Isolated from Citrusgrowing Areas of México on Adults of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae)
Fatima Lizeth Gandarilla-Pacheco, Luis J. Galán-Wong, J. I. López-Arroyo, Raúl Rodríguez-Guerra, Isela Quintero-Zapata
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Abstract

Huanglongbing (HLB), considered one of the most lethal diseases of citrus worldwide, has reached the main areas of Mexican lime (Citrus latifolia Tanaka) fruit production on the Pacific coast of México. Growers have initiated intensive use of insecticides in order to control populations of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), the vector of the pathogen, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ associated with huanglongbing. Presently, costs of insecticides and the side effects of their use are major concerns, because they could impair the management strategy against the vector; and thus, ecologically and economically viable alternatives to conventional insecticides are required in the short term. Therefore the goal of this study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of 27 native isolates and 3 strains of entomopathogenic fungi and determine their potential as biological control agents of D. citri by using 2 different bioassay methods. Bioassays were performed under laboratory conditions (26 ±2 °C, 60 ±5% RH and 16:8 h L:D) by exposing adult insects to a concentration of 1 × 108 conidia per milliliter using 2 different application methods, i.e., spraying the spores onto the citrus seedlings and spraying the spores directly onto the adult psyllids. The results showed that by direct spraying the adults, HIB-24 (B. bassiana) and HIB-32 (I. fumosorosea) isolates showed the highest mortality (60.66%). Regarding spraying of the seedlings, HIB-19 (I. fumosorosea) showed the highest percentage of mortality (62.02%). The results from this study demonstrate potential for using entomopathogenic fungi in the management of D. citri in México.

Fatima Lizeth Gandarilla-Pacheco, Luis J. Galán-Wong, J. I. López-Arroyo, Raúl Rodríguez-Guerra, and Isela Quintero-Zapata "Optimization of Pathogenicity Tests for Selection of Native Isolates of Entomopathogenic Fungi Isolated from Citrusgrowing Areas of México on Adults of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae)," Florida Entomologist 96(1), 187-195, (1 March 2013). https://doi.org/10.1653/024.096.0125
Published: 1 March 2013
KEYWORDS
biological control
Control biológico
Diaphorina citri
entomopathogenic fungi
hongos entomopatógenos
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