Effects of pesticides on granule formulation of an entomopathogenic microbial pesticide, Metarhizium anisopliae

Abstract

Metarhizium anisopliae is a widely distributed soil-inhabiting fungus and is used as a microbial pesticide against thrips. We studied the effects of 11 fungicides and 11 insecticides on granule formulation up to the growth of hyphae in the microbial pesticide M. anisopliae. Hyphal growth was not observed in M. anisopliae under the treatment using agar culture medium supplemented with benomyl and triflumizole as chemical fungicides and with MEP as a chemical insecticide. The results of our study indicate that the use of these fungicides and insecticides should be avoided when using the microbial pesticide.