Evaluation of mortality of mollusc worm (Spodoptera frugiperda L.) with the use of Metarhizium anisopliae in vitro

Abstract

The use of entomopathogenic fungi as a microbial control has advantages over the use of
chemical insecticides, highlighting their high host specificity and low environmental contamination.
However, the production of biological control agents such as Metarhizium anisopliae,
presents limitations in the optimum concentration of conidia, and the potential of native strains
is unknown. In the present investigation, the mortality of the worm (Spodoptera frugiperda L.)
was evaluated under laboratory conditions using Metarhizium anisopliae. The concentration of
53x104 con/mL of the native strain reported a mortality of 72.5% and the lowest was obtained
from the commercial Metarhizium strain at the concentration of 4x104 con/mL, equivalent to
32.5%. The highest mortality rate for both strains occurred at 72 hrs post-infection. These results
demonstrate the feasibility of the use of Metarhizium anisopliae for the biological control
of the cogwheel worm (Spodoptera frugiperda L.) in vitro.