Efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi against Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, in the field

Alejandro Arevalo1, Jawwad Qureshi1, Drion Boucias2 & Philip A. Stansly1

University of Florida 1SWFREC, Immokalee, FL

2 Entomology and Nematology Gainesville

Natural enemies of D. citri

Entomopathogenic fungi and ACP

• Cladosporium oxysporum (Samways & Grech1986)

• Verticillium lecanii (Xie et al. 1988)• Cephalosporium lecanii (Xie et al. 1989)• Hirsutella citriformis (Subandiyah et al. 2000)

– In Florida (Meyer et al. 2007)

• Isaria fumosorosea-(Paecilomyces fumosoroseus) (Subandiyah et al. 2000)– In Florida (Meyer et al. 2007)

2008 Entomopathogenic fungi test

Treatment a.i ConcentrationLab experiment

DoseField experiment

Untreated Control - - -

Futureco NoFly WPFE 9901 Natural Industries, Inc.

Isariafumosorosea

1.5 x 107 spores/ml 3.89 Kg / ha

NZBPC2102Novozymes Biologicals

Metarhiziumanisopliae

1.6 x 107 spores/ml 2.11 L / ha

Delegate Spinetoram - 0.42 Kg / ha

2008 Laboratory Trial

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NoFly WP NZBPC 2102 Control

Mea

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• 4 Replicates x 10 ACP

• Spray tower @ 10 psi

• 0.45 ml / Petri dish

• Mortality at 5 days

• Confirmed infection

Oil Compatibility • 3 Treatments x 4 Replicates

• 435 Oil @ 5%

• CitruFilm (Helena Chemicals) @ 5%

• Water

Fungus Treatment Spore Germination

Hyphalformation

Isariafumosorosea

435 Oil 12 h 48 h

CitruFilm - -

Water 4 h 24 h

Metarhiziumanisopliae

435 Oil 12 h 48 h

CitruFilm - -

Water 2 h 24 h

2008 Field trial – Methods

• RCBD with 4 replicates •14 Murraya paniculata (0.9 m high)•4 plant buffer • Applications on Oct 7, 2008

•@ sunset • Used a high clearance sprayer

•55.2 GPA •200 PSI

• Sample of solution was collected during the spray for viability

• Tap sample

•10 plants per plot

• Live and dead adults were collected for signs of mycosis

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Pre sample 3 6 8 15 22 InsectxDays

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ControlI. fumosoroseaM. anisopliaeSpinetoram

a

a

a

b

2008 Field trial – affect on ACP

• Application on Oct 7, RH: 80%, Temp: 85 F,

• No measurable rain 3 DAT , 1.5 inches two previous days

F = 13.08P = 0.0012

2008 Field trial- fungal infection

Hirsutella citriformis

Field trial with PFR-97 20% WDG*

* Isaria fumosorosea 97 . ™ Certis, Wasco, CA

• RCBD 4 replicates, 11 m 2 plots

• Treated a combination of •M. paniculata and Volkameriana lemon

• 4 Treatments • PFR- 97 WDG @ 28 oz/100GPA

+ 5% 435 Oil • PFR – 97 WDG @ 28 oz/100GPA • 5% 435 Oil• Untreated control

• Application repeated every 15 days

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Pre 12 21 28 36 InsectxDays

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CP p

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OilPFRPFR+OilUntreated

Field trial for PFR-97 20% WDG*

All applications were conducted at sundown No entomopathogens were isolated from adults or nymphs

F= 2.41; P=0.13

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Control435 Oil 5%PFRPFR + Oil

Field trial for PFR-97 20% WDG*

F = 1.45 P = 0.2911

All applications were conducted at sundown

Conclusions

• Isaria fumosorosea-has shown potential for ACP control in the laboratory,

Unfortunately, not in the field.

• 5% - 435 Oil delays but it does not reduce germination and hyphal

formation of I. fumosorosea or M. anisopliae.

• CitruFilm does not allow germination of these fungi.

• None of the commercial entomopathogens tested had an effect on ACP

populations.

• Isaria fumosorosea was never recovered from treated plots.

• Applications of tested entomopathogens do not affect parasitoidsm.