Abstract

ELOSEGUI CLARO, Orestes  and  ELIZONDO SILVA, Ana Ibis. In vitro Microbiological Evaluation of Entomopathogenic Fungi Mixtures Used as Active Ingredients in Cuban Biopesticides. Fitosanidad [online]. 2010, vol.14, n.2, pp.103-109. ISSN 1562-3009.

It has been demonstrated that in vitro strain mixtures may have beneficial or detrimental effects on crop pest biocontrol. In this paper in vitro effect of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Lecanicillium lecanii spores dual mixtures on conidia germination in co-culture was assessed as well as interaction between these fungi in dual cultures. The fungal strains used were active ingredients of commercial Cuban biopesticides. Conidial mixtures did not change the conidial percentage germination with a percentage higher than 95% for every species in co-culture. In dual cultures colony radial growth rate in the first days did not change but from day 13 to day 15 a decrease in growth rate was visible. The colony growth also stopped by the third week when the margins of both colonies were about 4-6 mm away from each other. This behaviour allowed consider the type of interaction between both fungi as a mutual inhibition at distance. These results are basic for starting research about in vivo assessment of in-mixture entomopathogenic fungi through bioassays in a first stage, in order to know their feasible practical use on the control of certain target pests.

Keywords : biological control; Metarhizium anisopliae; Beauveria bassiana; Lecanicillium lecanii; biopesticides.

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