Screening for attractants compatible with entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae for use in thrips management

Several thrips attractants were screened for compatibility with Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) and a subset of these for attraction to Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom  (Thysanoptera: Thripidae ). Conidial germination and germ tube length of M. anisopliae were used as  indicators of its compatibility with thrips attractant. Conidial germination and germ tube length differed significantly according to volatiles of different attractants. The highest conidial germination (76.5±3.5%) and longest germ tube length (130.3±13.4 μm) were recorded in the control, followed by methyl anthranilate (63.8±3.8%; 103.8±8.4 μm), cis-jasmone (61.8±5.9%; 93.8±14.4 μm) and  transcaryophyllene (57.7±6.5%; 96.3±15.5 μm) which were found compatible with M. anisopliae. A  Pearson c orrelation test indicated a significant positive correlation between conidial germination and germ tube length (r =0.6; P<0.0001). The attraction of M. sjostedti to selected thrips attractant also varied significantly among the attractants. Under field conditions, methyl anthranilate was equally attractive to M. sjostedi as Lurem-TR and could be recommended as a thrips attractant that can be combined with M. anisopliae in autoinoculation devices for potential control of M. sjostedti. Key words : Semiochemicals, conidial germination, germ tube length, Megalurothrips sjostedti, attraction, persistence, field.