PATHOGENICITY AND VIRULENCE OF THE NATIVE ISOLATED STRAIN OF Isaria spp. AND TWO ENTOMOPATHOGENIC COMMERCIAL OF FUNGI

Abstract

Entomopathogenic fungi have been shown to be a promising alternative to control the coffee berry borer. This study evaluated the pathogenicity and virulence of an isolate native strain was evaluated Isarias pp., And two isolates of commercial strains of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae on CBB adults. The dose-mortality bioassays were performed with spore suspensions (1,92x10⁸ to 1,12x10¹⁰ CFU.ml^-1). Adult mortality of Hypothenemus hampei was evaluated and the medial lethal concentration (LC₅₀) was calculated for the isolate Isaria spp. After seven days, adult mortality of the coffe bery was between 80,5 and 100%. For the concentration ranges of 4,48x10⁹ to 1,12x10¹⁰ CFU.ml^-1. The death of the coffee berry borer ranged from 1,91 to 6,5 days, for concentrations of 2,22x10⁸ to 3,64x10⁹ CFU.ml^-1. The LC₅₀ of Isaria was 0,11x10⁹ CFU.ml^-1. Isolates of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae commercial strains, showed low mortality. The isolated native strain Isaria proved pathogenicity on CBB and virulencet the coffee berry borer under laboratory conditions.