Entomopathogenic fungi associated to Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) in Colima, Mexico

Abstract

Diaphorina citri is the vector of Huanglongbing (HLB), a devastating disease of citrus fruits worldwide. We searched for entomopathogenic fungi (EF) as potential biological control agents of D. citri in commercial citrus orchards and myrtle plants in urban areas of the state of Colima, Mexico. The fungi that were found associated with the pest were isolated and identified by morphological and molecular methods. Thirty strains of EF were isolated from the order Hypocreales: Hirsutella citriformis, Isaria javanica, Beauveria bassiana, and Simplicillium lanosoniveum; 2 genera of Entomophthorales (Batkoa sp. y Entomophthora sp.) with unsuccessful isolation. The natural incidence of Simplicillium lanosoniveum and Batkoa sp. associated with D. citri in Colima, Mexico is reported for the first time. Due to the incidence of H. citriformis, it could be considered as a good candidate for the biological control of the psyllid D. citri, as the Entomophthorales species, all of them open the possibility of exploring their potential as microbial agents of this psyllid.