Entomopatogenic activity of native beauveria spp. isolates against premnotrypes vorax (hustache).

Abstract

Andean potato weevil Premnotrypes vorax Hustache is a very important potato pest in Colombia, sometimes causing until 100% of damage. The objective of this research was to evaluate native isolates of Beauveria spp. against P. vorax In vitro. Entomopathogenetic isolates were obtained from infected larvae and adults of P. vorax, Tecia solanivora, Phthorimaea operculella, Aepytus sp., Hypotenemus hampei and Rynchophorus palmarum. Five of eigth isolates (Bv01, Bv02, Bv05, Bv07 y Bv08), with mortality higher than 60% and greather conidia production, were selected in vitro.. The efficacy of each isolate was evaluated on 10 P. vorax larvae. Larvae were disinfected, and submerged in a suspension of 1x107 espores.mL-1. Mortality was assessed each 48 hour during 16 days. A completely randomized design, with six treatments and four replicates was used. All isolates reached an accumulative mortality of 100%, sixteen days after inoculation.. However, the isolate Bv07 showed the highest entomopatogenic activity against P. vorax In vitro.

Keywords

• fungus
• larvae
• entomopatogenic
• mortality
• potato crop