OCCURRENCE OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH AVOCADO (Persea americana Mill.) SOILS IN COLIMA, MEXICO

Abstract

Background: Entomopathogenic fungi (EF) play a key role in the regulation of arthropod populations and biotransformation in natural systems, as well as biological pest control agents in different agroecosystems, including avocado cultivation (Persea americana Mill.), where Mexico is a leader in production and export worldwide. Objective: Determine the presence of EF in soil in commercial avocado orchards in the state of Colima, Mexico. Methodology: Sampling was carried out in three avocado orchards (Piedra rajada, El Guardián, and Montitlán) located in Comala and Cuauhtémoc in the state of Colima, Mexico, from July 2016 to June 2017. Soil samples were collected around avocado trees. Isolation of entomopathogenic fungi was performed using the Galleria mellonella Linnaeus insect trap technique. The isolates were identified considering their micro- and macroscopic characteristics with the taxonomic keys of Humber (2012). Results: A total of 108 samples were collected, of those, 120 isolates were obtained, of which 112 belong to the genus Metarhizium and eight to Beauveria. Implications: The recovered fungi have a great value for the avocado-growing areas of the state of Colima, either for the conservation of natural enemies of soil pests or for their potential use as an alternative to synthetic insecticides. Conclusion: Knowing the native micro-biota of the soil should be considered within biological pest control strategies, since it allows selecting the best adapted species, and including sustainable alternatives for the environment.

Keywords

• agroecosistema
• aguacate
• beauveria
• insecto trampa
• metarhizium