Evaluation of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus for microbial control of the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii

Collaborative research was conducted at the USDA-ARS Subtropical Agricultural Research Center in southern Texas to assess the microbial control potential of Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus against Bemisia whiteflies. Laboratory assays demonstrated the capacity of both pathogens to infect Bemisia argentifolii nymphs on excised hibiscus leaves incubated at relative humidities as low as 25% at 23 +/- 2 degrees C (ca. 35% infection by B. bassiana and P. fumosoroseus resulted from applications of 0.6-1.4 x 10(3) conidia/mm(2) of leaf surface). In small-scale field trials using portable air-assist sprayers, applications at a high rate of 5 x 10(13) conidia in 180 liters water/ha produced conidial densities of ca. 1-2.5 x 10(3) conidia/mm(2) on the lower surfaces of cucurbit leaves. Multiple applications of one isolate of P. fumosoroseus and four isolates of B. bassiana made at this rate at 4- to 5-day intervals provided >90% control of large (third- and fourth-instar) nymphs on cucumbers and cantaloupe melons. The same rate applied at 7-day intervals also provided >90% control in zucchini squash, and a one-fourth rate (1.25 x 10(13) conidia/ha) applied at 4- to 5-day intervals reduced numbers of large nymphs by >85% in cantaloupe melons. In contrast to the high efficacy of the fungal applications against nymphs, effects against adult whiteflies were minimal. The results indicated that both B. bassiana and P. fumosoroseus have strong potential for microbial control of nymphal whiteflies infesting cucurbit crops. (C) 2000 Academic Press.