Abstract

GARCIA-RIANO, Lorena; VASQUEZ-MENDIETA, Diego; GOMEZ-VALDERRAMA, Juliana  and  VILLAMIZAR, Laura Fernanda. Compatibility of Beauveria bassiana biopesticide with agrochemicals: effect on germination and insecticidal activity on Diatraea saccharalis larvae. Rev. colomb. biotecnol [online]. 2023, vol.25, n.2, pp.62-72.  Epub Feb 05, 2024. ISSN 0123-3475.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rev.colomb.biote.v25n2.106635.

Sugarcane stem borers of the genus Diatraea spp. (Lepidoptera:Crambidae) have been recognized as the pest of the greatest impact on sugarcane crops causing significant economic losses. For its control, a colombian strain of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill (code Bv062) that showed a high virulence against D. saccharalis (Fabricius) larvae was used for a biopesticide development, formulated as emulsifiable concentrate (EC). In order to include the EC into an integrated pest management (IPM) scheme, it is necessary to evaluate its compatibility with the agrochemicals commonly used in sugarcane crops. For this purpose, the in vitro effect of 11 agrochemicals (fungicides, insecticides and herbicides) on the germination and insecticidal activity of Bv062 formulated conidia was evaluated. Initially, the EC and agrochemicals were adjusted to double the recommended concentration and mixed in a 1:1 ratio. The mixes were incubated for two hours, and the germination percentage was calculated. The conidia exposed to the agrochemicals were also purified and used for a bioassay against second instar larvae of D. saccharalis. The EC was compatible with the herbicides and insecticides, maintaining germination and efficacy higher than 80%. In contrast, EC was incompatible with all the fungicides evaluated. These results allow us to suggest recommendations for the application of the biopesticide based on B. bassiana Bv062 with insecticides and herbicides used in sugarcane crops, but it is not recommended to apply it simultaneously with fungicides such as benomyl and the triazole group. It is recommended to validate these results under field conditions.

Keywords : Compatibility; agrochemicals; sugarcane; entomopathogenic fungi; biological control.

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