Isolation, moleculer characterization and pathogenicity of metarhizium anisopliae (METSCH.) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) from soil in Erzincan Province, Turkey

Abstract

Developing good microbial pesticides depends on isolating and knowing their pathogenicity. For this purpose, entomopathogenic Metarhizium anisopliae fungi were isolated from soils in Erzincan province and galleria bait method was used. Molecular identification of the isolates was performed by using ITS rDNA analysis. As a test organism, Galleria mellonella and Tenebrio molitor larvae were used and suspensions of 2×107 conidia ml-1 were prepared adding Tween 80®. Bioassays were performed by dipping technique and mortality was recorded daily for 12 days. Each assay consisted of 3 replicates with 10 insects larvae. Ten fungal isolates were obtained from the bait method. Based on classical and molecular methods, all fungal isolates were identified as M. anisopliae and deposited into GenBank database with MH104853 - MH104862 accession numbers. All isolates of M. anisopliae were pathogenic to G. mellonella and T. molitor with a mortality rate of 63.3±3.3% - 83.3±3.3% and 30±5.8% - 66.7±3.3%, respectively 12 days after application. As a result, MaEMR1a and MaEO3 isolates can be applied as good biological control agents for pest insects.