ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGUS SPECIES BEAUVERIA BASSIANA (BALS.) AND METARHIZIUM ANISOPLIAE (METSCH.) USED AS MYCOINSECTICIDE EFFECTIVE IN BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF IPS TYPOGRAPHUS (L.)

Abstract

The agricultural world is overloaded with chemical substances. Undesirable effects and the resistance of vermin opens a new way for biological control of pathogenic species of animals. Ips typographus (L.) is overgrowth across Central Europe. Its natural habitat are forest communities, where chemical spraying is forbidden or restricted. The natural bioregulators of this cosmopolitan pest are entomopathogenic fungi of Hypocreales species. In this study, we focused on two types of entomopathogenic fungi – Beauveria bassiana (BALS.) and Metarhizium anisopliae (METSCH.). They are suitable for biological control because they are attacking a wide range of pathogenic insects in agro-systems. Entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from soil samples and dead infected insects. The samples collected from different sites of the High Tatras. In our experiments, we followed infectivity and mortality of selected isolates of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (BALS.) and Metarhizium anisopliae (METSCH.). The gDNA of isolates was used for identification and we put them to the analysis of specific DNA segments by amplified PCR method. Results of experiments show the high pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi strains. Beauveria bassiana (BALS.) caused 99% mortality and Metarhizium anisopliae (METSCH.) reached 97%. Infectivity followed by Beauveria bassiana (BALS.) reached 92% and Metarhizium anisopliae (METSCH.) 90%. For the purpose of limiting the numbers of populations of harmful pest is essential the ability of entomopathogenic fungi to infect, kill the host, and remain in a natural environment without disturbing the biota.