Assessment of Beauveria bassiana and Their Enzymatic Extracts against Metamasius spinolae and Cyclocephala lunulata in Laboratory

Abstract

The application of enzymatic extracts and conidia of Beauveria bassiana in Metama-sius spinolae and Cyclocephala lunulata was evaluated. The variables were mortality and time of death. In M. spinolae, mortality with extracts 29%, conidia 27% and the combination of both 31%, all had a time of death of four days. Although with differ-ent symptoms, used enzymatic extracts: contraction and softening of the joints; by conidia: mycelium in the joints; in the combination of conidia and enzymatic ex-tracts: abundant aerial mycelium. In C. lunulata, 100% mortality in all treatments; Time of death: enzymatic extracts and extracts with conidia 1.2 days; conidia 2.8 days. Symptoms were different, enzymatic extracts: melanization and internal tissue lysis; enzymatic extract and conidia: mycelium emerged and melanization; conidia: mycelium emerged. Enzymatic extracts showed insecticidal activity in M. spinolae and C. lunulata. These results suggest the potential of enzymatic extracts as biocon-trol agents to improve the use of entomopathogenic fungi.