Research on the pathogenicity of autochthonous entomopathogenic fungi in Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood

Abstract

Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) belongs to whitefly species that cause significant damage to crops in protected areas and fields in Romania. Biological control with parasitoids and entomopathogenic fungi is an important alternative for the management of this pest. The susceptibility of the fourth larval stage of T. vaporariorum to 3 different strains of Beauveria sp. (Bals.) Vuill. and one strain of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok., isolated from natural outbreaks in Romania, was assessed. Conidial suspensions containing 107CFU/mL were applied directly on old nymphal stages of T. vaporariorum using a fine droplet spray nozzle, in a laboratory trial. The results of this study were compared with those obtained by using the commercial strain B. bassiana ATCC 74040 and they indicate that two autochthonous strains have potential as biological agents for the control of T. vaporariorum.