untitled

aubergine, lettuce, ornamentals, and cut flowers. The

Vertalec formulation contains a different strain of L.

lecaniithat controls many aphid species. Both products

have a long history of successful usage, but according

to the manufacturer’s technical data sheets, the best

results require a temperature of 18 –28°C and a mini-

mum relative humidity of 80% for 10–12 hours a day.

Several other mycoinsecticides have been registered

commercially, and some of these are shown in Table

15.2. Many are based on different strains or species of

Beauveriaor Metarhizium. In this respect it is important

to note that different strains or species can have quite

different host ranges, so the activity of any one strain

cannot be used to predict the activities of other stains

within this highly variable group of fungi.

It is interesting to note that B. bassianais reported

to colonize some maize cultivars in the USA. It does

so by growing as an endophyte in the maize tissues,

similar to the endophytes of plants discussed in

Chapter 14. When granular formulations of B. bassiana

conidia were sprayed on the maize foliage the fungus

grew into the plant and persisted throughout the

growing season, significantly suppressing the damage

caused by larvae of the European corn borer, Ostrinia

nubilaris– the most important insect pest of maize

(Fig. 15.7).

316 CHAPTER 15

Fig. 15.7European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilaris) in the stalk of a maize plant. (a) Healthy insect. (b) Insect killed

by Beauveria bassiana, showing profuse development of spores and hyphae on the insect cadaver. (Courtesy of Marlin.

E. Rice, University of Ohio.)

(a) (b)

Table 15.2Some examples of currently registered mycoinsecticides.

Country

USA

USA

USA

USA/Europe

UK, Europe

UK, Europe

South Africa

Reunion

Switzerland

Switzerland

France

Australia

Registered product name

Mycotrol, Botanigard

Naturalis

BioBlast

PFR-97™

Vertalec

Mycotal

Green Muscle

Betel

Engerlingspilz

Beauveria Schweizer

Ostrinol

BioGreen

Fungus

Beauveria bassiana

B. bassiana

Metarhizium anisopliae

Paecilomyces

fumosoroseus

Lecanicillium lecanii

L. lecanii

M. anisopliae

B. bassiana

Beauveria brogniartii

B. brogniartii

B. bassiana

Metarhizium flavoviride

Target pest

Whitefly, aphids, thrips

Sucking insects

Termites

Whitefly, thrips

Aphids

Whitefly, thrips

Locusts

Scarab beetle larvae

Scarab beetle larvae

Scarab beetle larvae

Corn borer

Cockchafer

Crop

Glasshouse tomatoes

and ornamentals

Cotton, glasshouse crops

Domestic houses

Glasshouse crops

Glasshouse crops

Glasshouse crops

Natural bushland

Sugar cane

Pasture

Pasture

Maize

Pasture, turf