Abstract

CORTEZ-ISIORDIA, K.A. et al. Effectiveness of the native strain Metarhizium pingshaense on larvae of Triodonyx lalanza Saylor (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae), under semi-controlled conditions. Revista bio ciencias [online]. 2022, vol.9, e1297.  Epub Apr 12, 2024. ISSN 2007-3380.  https://doi.org/10.15741/revbio.09.e1297.

The “white grubs” (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) are the most important soil pests of various crops in Mexico, including sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). Entomopathogenic fungi are offered as an important biological alternative for the management of this pest, which can reduce the application of chemical insecticides. It is important to increase studies on the biological efficacy of entomopathogenic fungal strains against white grubs, under semi-controlled conditions, which will allow in the future improvement on their correct application in the field, to obtain an efficient pest control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological efficacy of a native strain (MGCPh4) of Metarhizium pingshaense (Chen and Guo) in contrast to the commercial strain Fungizium( of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff), and with a granulated chemical insecticide (Allectus(-GR) against Triodonyx lalanza Saylor larvae in pots with sugarcane, under semi-controlled conditions. The two strains of Metarhizium were applied at a dose of 1x105 conidia·cm2, while the chemical insecticide was applied at a dose of 30 kg·ha-1. After the application of the treatments, the percentage of dead larvae was evaluated for 60 days. The chemical insecticide Allectus®-GR caused the highest larval mortality (33 %), with statistically significant differences compared to the rest of the treatments, followed by the native strain MGCPh4 of M. pingshaense, which presented 22 % larval mortality.

Keywords : Biological control; white grub; entomopathogenic fungi; Metarhizium anisopliae; virulence.

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