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
0
10
20
30
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50
60
70
80
90
100
NoFly WP NZBPC 2102 Control
Mea
n %
Mor
talit
y
• 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
0
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60
70
80
90
100
0
5
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15
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25
Pre sample 3 6 8 15 22 InsectxDays
Cum
ulat
ive
Inse
ct x
Day
s
Mea
n N
o. o
f ACP
per
tap
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
0
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80
100
120
0
2
4
6
8
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12
14
Pre 12 21 28 36 InsectxDays
Cum
ulat
ive
Inse
ct x
Day
s
Mea
n N
. of A
CP p
er ta
p
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
ab
ab
b
a
0
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60
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21-S
ep
29-S
ep
6-O
ct
13-O
ct
22-O
ct
3-N
ov
Ove
rall
% o
f T. r
adia
ta p
aras
itoi
dsm
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.