Epidemiology of Beauveria bassiana in Controlled Populations of Bactericera cockerelli1

• Published in: The Southwestern entomologist Vol. 42; no. 4; pp. 1041 - 1056
• Main Authors: Suárez-Núñez, Janette, Cortez-Madrigal, Hipolito, García-Munguía, Alberto Margarito
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Society of Southwestern Entomologists 01.12.2017
• ISSN: 0147-1724; 2162-2647
• DOI: 10.3958/059.042.0423

The effect of four variables -- ratio of infected/healthy individuals, sex, interference from healthy males, and transmission time — was evaluated to know the potential of horizontal transmission of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin strain Bb-M to induce epizootics in controlled populations of tomato/potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc). In addition, the time in which 50% of the conidia germinated (GT50) and response to humidity were evaluated. The Bb-M strain required high humidity to sporulate (≥ 93%) and had a GT50 of 12.7 hours. The proportion of infected/healthy insects was very correlated (r = 0.804, p ≤ 0.05) with dissemination of the entomopathogen, suggesting a larger number of infected insects increased the spread of the entomopathogen. The sex effect was not consistent in transmission of the entomopathogen, with tendency toward greater infection (94%) when only males were infected. Transmission by males fluctuated from 15 to 96.66%, with greatest transmission having a ratio of 1:10 (infected males:healthy females). The mean transmission time (Tt50) was 5.8 days. The results showed the evaluated strain by the auto-dissemination technique has potential for use in management of tomato psyllid; however, future studies are needed to design and evaluate strategies for application in the field.