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Activity of Fungal Entomopathogens against Pineapple Pink Mealy Bug [Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)]
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1  Department of Pest Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, Visayas State University, Baybay, Leyte, Philippines
Academic Editor: Azucena Gonzalez-Coloma

Abstract:

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are promising biological control agents against pink pineapple mealybug (PPMB), Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), an important insect pest of pineapple. Three EPFs, namely, Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria sp., and Lecanicillium lecanii, were tested against PPMB crawlers and adults in a laboratory. Methods of EPF application were direct spraying on insects and pineapple leaf and dipping with a single dosage of a 1 mL suspension of 1x108 spores/mL. Mortality rates were determined at 1 to 10 days after treatment (DAT). The results indicated that the three EPFs showed pathogenicity against the PPMB at varying degrees. At 10 DAT, a 100% mortality rate was observed for the treatment of M. anisopliae on all application methods and PPMB stages, followed by L. lecanii ( 55.91%) and Beauveria sp. ( 27.98 %). No significant difference in the percentage of infection was observed between PPMB crawlers and adults. Moreover, a slightly higher percentage of infection was observed in the spraying of the conidial suspension at 1x 108 but this was not statistically significant compared to the leaf dipping method. This study suggests that among the EPFs used, M. anisopliae has the potential to be used as a biological control against PPMB.

Keywords: entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae, pineapple, pink pineapple mealybug

 
 
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