Influence of Temperature on Virulence of Fungal Isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana to the Two-Spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae

Abstract

Twenty-three isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sokorin and three isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) were assessed for their virulence against the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). Based on the screening results, nine isolates of M. anisopliae and two isolates of B. bassiana were tested for their virulence against young adult (1- to 2-day-old) female T. urticae at constant temperatures of 20, 25, 30 and 35°C. At all temperatures tested, all the fungal isolates were pathogenic to T. urticae but mortality varied with isolates and temperatures. Fungal isolates were more virulent at 25, 30 and 35°C than at 20°C. The lethal time to 50% mortality (LT50) and lethal time to 90% mortality (LT90) values decreased with increased temperature. There were no significant differences in virulence between fungal isolates at 30 and 35°C; however, significant differences were observed at 20 and 25°C.