Open AccessNATIVE AMAZONIAN FUNGI TO CONTROL TERMITES Nasutitermes sp. (BLATTODEA: TERMITIDAE)
Author(s) -
Fernanda Viana Fernanda,
Gleison Rafael Queiroz Mendonça Gleison,
Atilon Vasconcelos de Araujo Atilon,
Leila Priscila Peters Leila,
Clarice Maia Carvalho Clarice
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta biológica colombiana/acta biológica colombiana
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.184
H-Index - 13
eISSN - 1900-1649
pISSN - 0120-548X
DOI - 10.15446/abc.v27n1.86848
Subject(s) - metarhizium anisopliae , biology , biological pest control , termitidae , blattodea , metarhizium , conidium , population , entomopathogenic fungi , botany , ecology , cockroach , demography , sociology
Termites of the Nasutitermes genus are considered one of the main urban and agroforestry pests in Brazil, where the main method of control is the application of pesticides. The uso of entomopathogenic fungi to reduce the population of this plague in the environment could be use as an alternative. The goal of this study was to evaluate the virulence of isolates native Amazonian fungi belonging to the Tolypocladium endophyticum, Metarhizium anisopliae and Metarhizium marquandii species for the control of Nasutitermes sp. The strains of T. endophyticum (4.439), M. anisopliae (4.443) and M. marquandii (4.472) with their respective isolation codes, were evaluated using suspensions at concentrations of 105, 106, 107 and 108 conidia/mL against the termites. The fungi were characterized to species level by molecular analysis. The greatest virulence was registered with T. endophyticum (4.439), with a mortality of 100 % on the 4th day of treatment for all analyzed concentrations. The M. anisopliae strain (4.443) proved to be efficient, causing a mortality of 100 % on the 7th and 6th days at dilutions of 107 and 108 conidia/mL, respectively. Rates lower than 100 % were registered with M. marquandii (4.472). Therefore, the three fungal strains showed virulence against the termites Nasutitermes sp. In this study, the fungi Tolypocladium endophyticum and Metarhizium marquandii are reported for the first time for the biological control of pests, indicating the potential of native Amazonian fungi for the biological control of thermites Nasutitermes sp.