Efeitos dos fungos Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) SOROK. e Beauveria bassiana (BALS.) VUILL sobre Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) e compatabilidade com inseticidas

Abstract

The control of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is usually done with intensive insecticide sprays, which has led to the research of alternative control methods as part of the tomato leafminer integrated management in tomato crops. The objective of this work was to evaluate the pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch) Sorok. and Beauveria bassiana (Bals.)Vuill isolates on eggs and larvae of T. absoluta, and their compatibility with insecticides used to control this pest. Also, it was investigated the infection process of M. anisopliae on eggs and the effect over fecundity and mortality of females. Although both fungi showed pathogenicity to eggs and larvae of T. absoluta, M. anisopliae showed higher pathogenicity than B. bassiana. Among the isolates of M. anisopliae tested, URPE-6 and URPE-19 caused 95% and 42% infection in eggs and 1st instar larvae, respectively. The LC50-value for T. absoluta eggs was 3.5 x 104 conidia.mL-1 of the URPE-6 isolate. The compatibility of isolates URPE-6 and URPE-19 with neem, chlorfenapyr, indoxacarb, spinosad and abamectin was evaluated. Field dosages of chlorfenapyrand neem were toxic to the isolate URPE-19, while abamectin and neem showed toxicity to the isolate URPE-6. Ultra-structure analysis of URPE-6 infecting eggs showed that the process of conidia penetration occurred within 6 h after application of the fungus. Bodies of hyphae presenceand intense micelle extrusion were observed in eggs at 12 and 72 h after application, respectively. The URPE-6 isolate did not show any effect on egg-laying preference and fecundity of T. absoluta females, but it affected their survivals. The use of entomopathogenic fungi is a potential alternative control for T. absoluta mainly at the egg stage, and it may be associated with insecticides used in the control of this tomato pest