The study of the biological characters of three entomopathogenic fungi and their pathogenicity against the olive psyllid (Euphyllura olivina) under laboratory conditions

Abstract

The effect of three different growth media, temperature, and pH on the mycelium growth of three isolates of entomopathogenic fungi, Fusarium sp., Verticillium lecanii and Isaria fumosorosea was investigated. PDA and SDA are the most suitable growth media. The three isolates of entomopathogenic fungi that can grow on pH varied between 4.5 and 8.5. Both temperatures, 20 and 25°C, were more suitable for the mycelia growth of these isolates. The tested isolates were sporulated on standard culture media. In this study, we evaluated the comparative entomopathogenicity of three important fungi: Fusarium sp., Verticillium lecanii and Isaria fumosorosea in infecting the fourth and fifth larval instars of E. olivina with different concentrations under laboratory conditions. The obtained results showed that these isolates caused the highest mortality in days and had the potential to limit the life stage of olive psylla.