title: Metarhizium pingshaense applied as a seed treatment induces fungal infection in larvae of the white grub Anomala cincta.
abstract: Metarhizium pingshaense has potential as a control agent of the white grub Anomala cincta. We compared its ability to cause infection when applied as a seed treatment or directly to the compost around the plant roots. Although the greatest infection (93%) occured in the direct inoculation treatment, 50% of larvae still became infected by M. pingshaense applied as a seed treatment. The fungus persisted in the compost and also colonised the roots of the developing maize plants endophytically. More research is required but seed treatments with M. pingshaense have potential as cost-effective control options for A. cincta.
authors.affiliation: Entomología y Acarología, Postgrado en Fitosanidad, Colegio de Postgraduados, Km. 36.5 Carretera México-Texcoco, Montecillo, Texcoco, Estado de Mexico 56230, Mexico.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Peña-Peña
authors.affiliation: Entomología y Acarología, Postgrado en Fitosanidad, Colegio de Postgraduados, Km. 36.5 Carretera México-Texcoco, Montecillo, Texcoco, Estado de Mexico 56230, Mexico.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Santillán-Galicia
authors.affiliation: Entomología y Acarología, Postgrado en Fitosanidad, Colegio de Postgraduados, Km. 36.5 Carretera México-Texcoco, Montecillo, Texcoco, Estado de Mexico 56230, Mexico.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández-López
authors.affiliation: Entomología y Acarología, Postgrado en Fitosanidad, Colegio de Postgraduados, Km. 36.5 Carretera México-Texcoco, Montecillo, Texcoco, Estado de Mexico 56230, Mexico. Electronic address: gariel@colpos.mx.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Guzmán-Franco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000469:parasitology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D052981:Metarhizium / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Microbial control; Plant–fungi interactions; Soil pests