Goble, Tarryn A. Gardescu, Sana Jackson, Mark A. E. Hajek, Ann Evaluating different carriers of <i>Metarhizium brunneum</i> F52 microsclerotia for control of adult Asian longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) <p>Microsclerotia (MS) of <i>Metarhizium brunneum</i> strain F52 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) were processed as granules using three carriers: kaolin clay, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), or diatomaceous earth (DE). In a series of experiments aimed at comparing viable conidial production, each MS carrier type was hydrated using a decreasing range of water activities on glycerol or polyethylene glycol (PEG200)-amended media. Conidial density and percent germination of conidia declined significantly as water activity was lowered. All three carrier types produced >2–6 × 10<sup>9</sup> viable conidia/gram at higher water activities (<i>а</i><sub>w</sub> >0.987) but were still capable of producing 2.9 × 10<sup>7</sup> ± 1.6 × 10<sup>6</sup> conidia/g (30% glycerol <i>а</i><sub>w </sub>= 0.883) and 1.9 × 10<sup>7</sup> ± 6.5 × 10<sup>6</sup> conidia/g (30% PEG200 <i>а</i><sub>w </sub>= 0.924) at the lowest tested water activities. MS carrier types were sprayed onto 0.4 m length logs with or without hydromulch formulation. The median survival times of Asian longhorned beetles, <i>Anoplophora glabripennis</i> (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), exposed by climbing double the length of the logs of hydromulch-treated bark, were 16.5–20.5 d while beetles exposed to logs without hydromulch formulation had median survival times of 22–25.5 d. Overall, experiments showed that there were few biologically significant differences between the MS carrier types.</p> Formulation;biological control;entomopathogenic fungi;water activity 2016-07-06
    https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/figure/Evaluating_different_carriers_of_i_Metarhizium_brunneum_i_F52_microsclerotia_for_control_of_adult_Asian_longhorned_beetles_Coleoptera_Cerambycidae_/3472196
10.6084/m9.figshare.3472196.v1