Assessment of the fungus Cladosporium oxysporum (Berk. and Curt.) as a potential biocontrol agent against certain homoptera

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 231 - 239
• Main Authors: Samways, M.J., Grech, N.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 1986; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Agronomy; Aphididae; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; Biotechnology; Cladosporium oxysporum; Coccidae; Coccus aethiopicus; Control; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; pathogens; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Planococcus citri; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Pseudococcidae; Pseudococcus longispinus; Toxoptera citricidus; Toxoptera erytreae; Entomopathogen; Laboratory study; Insecta; Africa; Biological agent; Coccoidea; Fungi; Pest; Microbiological control; Homoptera; Fruit crop; Psidium guajava; Arthropoda; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Myrtaceae; South Africa; Spermatophyta; Fruit tree; Fungi Imperfecti; Planococcus citri; Invertebrata; Thallophyta; Field study
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/0167-8809(86)90122-2

Cladosporium oxysporum (Berk. and Curt.) was isolated from Planococcus citri (Risso). In the laboratory, the pathogen was grown in submerged culture and then applied to P. citri, Pseudococcus longispinus (T.T.), Coccus aethiopicus De Lotto and Trioza erytreae (del Guercio), causing death and hyphal growth in all four. Applications in the field had considerable initial impact upon populations of Toxoptera citricidus (4 trials) and T. erytreae (1 trial). An unidentified toxin may be more instrumental in causing death than direct hyphal growth.