Entomopathogenicity of Three Muscardine Fungi, Beauveria bassiana, Isaria fumosorosea and Metarhizium anisopliae, against the Asian Citrus Psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is one of notorious insect pests of citrus plants that acts as a putative vector of Huanglongbin (citrus greening) disease all over the world. This study evaluated the comparative entomopathogenicity of three important fungi, i.e. Beauveria bassiana, Isaria fumosorosea and Metarhizium anisopliae against D. citri adults and nymphs. The commercial formulations of these fungi containing (1.0 x 10(8) conidia) (CFU) g(-1) were applied at 2 dose rates, i.e. 2.5 gl(-1) and 5.0 gl(-1) against psyllid nymphs and adults. Results revealed that I. fumosorosea was the most effective and gave significant mortality (85%) of D. citri adults and nymphs (92%) (at P < 0.05) after 7 DAT (days after treatment), followed by B. Basin, which gave (54 and 47%) mortality of psyllid nymphs and adults, respectively. M anisopliae caused insignificant mortality of ACPs for both dose rates. Based on these results, this study suggests the incorporation of I. fumosorosea as a potential biocontrol agent in biorational IPM strategies against the Asian citrus psyllids.