Compatibility between Chemical Insecticides and Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum

The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum has been studied in different countries as mycoinsecticide against grasshoppers. One of the utilization strategies considered is the association between entomopathogenic fungi and sublethal dosages of chemical insecticides compatible with the biological control agent. The effect of different chemical insecticides at concentrations varying from 5 to 5000 ppm on the conidial germination and growth of the fungus M. anisopliae var. acridum (CG 423) was assessed for compatibility evalution. The best results with inhibitory concentration (IC50) on germination (liquid medium) and radial colonial growth (solid medium) of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum at 28°C was obtained with Teflubenzuron.