Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVI, Issue 2
Written by Daniel COJANU, Maria Cristina LUMÎNARE, Monica Mihaela DINU, Ana-Cristina FĂTU
Using two different bioassay methods, the pathogenicity of three isolates of Beauveria bassiana, one of B. pseudobassiana and one of Metarhizium anisopliae, was evaluated against two model insects, Plodia interpunctella and Galleria mellonella in larval stage. In laboratory conditions, the insects were treated by immersion in a conidial suspension of 1x108 UFC/ml and by dusting. Larval mortalities were recorded daily, 14 days post-exposure. All the fungal isolates have been shown to be pathogenic to test insects. Thus, two isolates of B. bassiana determined the highest mycosis percentages for test insects both by immersion and dusting. One B. bassiana isolate (BbTd1) killed P. interpunctella larvae in the shortest time (6 days), and the other isolate (BbTd2) determined the highest mycoses percentage, followed by B. pseudobassiana isolate (BpPa) by both treatment methods. The highest mycosis percentage was determined by BbTd2 and BPa isolates in the dusting treatment. G. mellonella larvae proved to be the least sensitive to fungal treatments applied by immersion (MST>50%). In the dusting treatment, the BbTd1 and MaF isolates induced the highest percentage of mycosis of G. mellonella larvae. All isolates have pathogenicity against test insects, indicating their possible use for biocontrol.
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