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New insights on the effectiveness of M etarhizium anisopliae formulation and application against A edes aegypti eggs
Author(s) -
Sousa N.A.,
Lobo L.S.,
Rodrigues J.,
Luz C.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/lam.12097
Subject(s) - metarhizium anisopliae , conidium , aedes aegypti , entomopathogenic fungus , biology , larva , entomopathogenic fungi , metarhizium , hypocreales , fungus , biological pest control , horticulture , botany , beauveria bassiana , ascomycota , biochemistry , gene
Increasing needs for innovative control tools against the dengue vector A edes aegypti have prompted investigations into the development of specific mycoinsecticides. The entomopathogenic fungus M etarhizium anisopliae attacks both larval and adult stages, but its ovicidal activity against A . aegypti is still little explored. This study reports important findings about the effectiveness of conidia formulated in water and oil‐in‐water emulsions and of direct and indirect application techniques against A . aegypti eggs. The ovicidal activity of M . anisopliae increased with higher conidial concentrations regardless of the application technique, and larvae elimination concentrations were lowest with oil‐in‐water‐formulated conidia ( LEC 50 ≤ 4·8 × 10 3 conidia cm −2 and LEC 90 ≤ 1·9 × 10 5 conidia cm −2 , respectively). Conidia eventually stimulated larval eclosion. Consequently, the indirect application of oil‐based fungal formulations onto substrates where oviposition will later occur appears to be a more efficient means to infect those eggs than the direct fungal application to previously deposited eggs. Significance and Impact of the Study The entomopathogenic fungus M etarhizium anisopliae has been extensively studied as a potential agent for biological mosquito control. This study demonstrates the potential of M. anisopliae s.l. strain IP 46, which can infect adults, larvae and eggs of A edes aegypti , against the eggs of this important vector species by indirect applications of oil‐based conidial formulations.