Evaluating different carriers of Metarhizium brunneum F52 microsclerotia for control of adult Asian longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Issue 9 (1st September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goble, Tarryn A.; Gardescu, Sana; Jackson, Mark A.; Hajek, Ann E.
• Is Part Of: Biocontrol science and technology. Volume 26:Issue 9(2016)
• Page Start: 1212
• Page End: 1229
• Publication Date: 2016-09-01
• Subjects: Formulation -- biological control -- entomopathogenic fungi -- water activity; Pests -- Biological control -- Periodicals; Weeds -- Biological control -- Periodicals; Pesticides -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Plants, Protection of -- Periodicals; Plants -- Biological control -- Periodicals; Agricultural pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Pest Control, Biological -- Periodicals; 632.96
• DOI: 10.1080/09583157.2016.1192103
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-3157

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Microsclerotia (MS) of Metarhizium brunneum strain F52 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) were processed as granules using three carriers: kaolin clay, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), or diatomaceous earth (DE). In a series of experiments aimed at comparing viable conidial production, each MS carrier type was hydrated using a decreasing range of water activities on glycerol or polyethylene glycol (PEG200)-amended media. Conidial density and percent germination of conidia declined significantly as water activity was lowered. All three carrier types produced >2–6 × 10 9 viable conidia/gram at higher water activities ( а w >0.987) but were still capable of producing 2.9 × 10 7 ± 1.6 × 10 6 conidia/g (30% glycerol а w = 0.883) and 1.9 × 10 7 ± 6.5 × 10 6 conidia/g (30% PEG200 а w = 0.924) at the lowest tested water activities. MS carrier types were sprayed onto 0.4 m length logs with or without hydromulch formulation. The median survival times of Asian longhorned beetles, Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), exposed by climbing double the length of the logs of hydromulch-treated bark, were 16.5–20.5 d while beetles exposed to logs without hydromulch formulation had median survival times of 22–25.5 d. Overall, experiments showed that there were few biologically significant differences between the MS carrier types.