title: Pathogenicity of conidia-based preparations of entomopathogenic fungi against the greenhouse pest aphids Myzus persicae, Aphis gossypii, and Aulacorthum solani (Hemiptera: Aphididae).
abstract: Seeking new isolates of entomopathogenic fungi with greater virulence against greenhouse aphid pests than those currently registered in North America for control of these insects, single-dose screening assays of 44 selected fungal isolates and 4 commercially available strains were conducted against first-instar nymphs of Myzus persicae and Aphis gossypii. The assays identified a number of Beauveria and Metarhizium isolates with virulence equal to or greater than that of the commercial strains against the nymphal aphids, but none exhibited exceptionally high virulence. Virulence of Isaria isolates was unexpectedly low (<31% mortality at doses>1000conidia/mm(2)). In dose-response assays, Beauveria ARSEF 5493 proved most virulent against M. persicae and A. gossypii; however, LC50s of this isolate did not differ significantly from those of B. bassiana commercial strain JW-1. Dose-response assays were also conducted with Aulacorthum solani, the first reported evaluations of Beauveria and Metarhizium against this pest. The novel isolate Metarhizium 5471 showed virulence⩾that of Beauveria 5493 in terms of LC25 and LC50, but 5493 produced a steeper dose response (slope). Additional tests showed that adult aphids are more susceptible than nymphs to fungal infection but confirmed that infection has a limited pre-mortem effect on aphid reproduction. Effects of assay techniques and the potential of fungal pathogens as aphid-control agents are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Comstock Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Department of Entomology, Gardner Hall, NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA. Electronic address: sej48@cornell.edu.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jandricic
authors.affiliation: OMAFRA, Simcoe Office, Box 587, Blueline Road & Highway # 3 Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filotas
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Comstock Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sanderson
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS Robert W. Holly Center for Agriculture and Health, Tower Road, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Wraight
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000469:parasitology*; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development; D014774:Virulence
keywords: Beauveria; Bioassays; Isaria; Metarhizium; Mycoinsecticides; Virulence