title: Microbial control of the invasive spiraling whitefly on cassava with entomopathogenic fungi.
abstract: The entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Lecanicillium lecanii and Isaria fumosorosea were tested for their efficacy in managing the exotic spiraling whitefly Aleurodicus dispersus (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) on cassava (Manihot esculenta) during 2 seasons (2011-2012 and 2012-2013). The fungi I. fumosorosea and L. lecanii exhibited promising levels of control (> 70% mortality of the A. dispersus population). The percent mortality increased over time in both seasons. Application of I. fumosorosea was highly pathogenic to A. dispersus in both seasons compared to the other entomopathogenic fungi. Analysis of the percent mortality in both seasons revealed differences in efficacy between 3 and 15 days after treatment. The season also influenced the effects of the fungi on the A. dispersus population. Thus, entomopathogenic fungi have the potential to manage A. dispersus infestation of cassava.
authors.affiliation: Division of Agricultural Entomology, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Mizoram, India.
authors.forename: Thangavel
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boopathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Palaniappan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karuppuchamy
authors.affiliation: Division of Agricultural Entomology, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Mizoram, India.
authors.forename: Soibam B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Manickavasagam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalyanasundaram
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohankumar
authors.affiliation: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Madhaiyan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ravi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D006999:Hypocreales / Q000502:physiology*; D002365:Manihot / Q000469:parasitology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*