Effect of biopreparation verticillin M based on the extract from entomopathogenic fungus Lecanicillium muscarium and its insecticidal metabolites on the entomophages in greenhouses

Abstract

Plants protection from pests in greenhouses, including the production of meristem potatoes, needs greatly in environmentally safe and effective preparations. The effect of the biopreparation verticillin M on the base of insecticidal metabolites of the entomopathogenic fungus Lecanicillium muscarium (= Verticillium lecanii) on a number of entomophages has been studied for the purpose of their joint application. The biopreparation is non-toxic in the maximum concentration (0.5 %) for Encarsia formosa in the nymph stage, the preimaginal stages of the predatory midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza, for predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis (mobile stages), and for larvae of predatory bug Orius laevigatus. Verticillin M is a weak toxic for imago A. aphidimyza and has no effect on the fecundity of surviving imago midge, hatching and subsequent survival of larvae and pupae. The mortality of imago O. laevigatus reached 22 % and 61 % at concentration of bioprepations 0.25 % and 0.5 %, respectively. The individual fractions responsible for the insecticidal activity of verticillin M showed a little toxicity to imago O. laevigatus. The combined use of verticillin M with imago of A. aphidimyza and O. laevigatus is possible in concentrations of 0.1–0.25 %.