Screening of field performance of entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes against cabbage root flies (Delia radicum l. and d. floralis (fall.); Diptera, Anthomyiidae)

Abstract

Finnish isolates of Beauveria bassiana (8 isolates), Metarhizium anisopliae (7), Tolypocladium sp. (2), Paecilomyces farinosus (2), P. fumosoroseus (1), Steinernema feltiae (3) and Bacillus thuringiensis ('Muscabac') were tested for efficacy against mixed populations of Delia radicum and D. floralis under field conditions in 1986–90. All pathogens were applied preventatively, the fungi as aqueous conidial or mycelial suspensions, dry conidia or dry mycelial powder. In only two of the nine experiments did B. bassiana or M. anisopliae give some control. In 1986, B. bassiana SF85–2 and Tolypocladium sp. SF85–4 (both at rate 1.2 x 109 conidia plant‐ 1), and ‘Muscabac’ (25 g 1−1, 1 dl plant−1) reduced the number of pupae by 80%, 60% and 50%, respectively, as compared with untreated and chemical (isophenphos) controls. In 1990, M. anisopliae SF86–39 at rate 1.6 x 109conidia plant−1 and 1.5 x 108 CFU plant−1 and S. feltiae SFS‐22 (35000 plant−1), increased the yield of cauliflower 2.2, 1.8, and 2.3‐fold, respect...