Viability of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae in mixture with agrochemicals

Abstract

In attempt to use the entomopathogenic fun­gus Metarhizium anisopliae as part of an in­tegrated pest management program against the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, the commercial (CD) and half commercial doses (1/2CD) of the following substances were tested to determine their effect on the fungus. Insecticides: endosulfan, clorpirifos, pirimifos methyl, fenitrothion, isazofos and neem; fun­gicides: benomyl, cyproconazol, hexaconazol, triadimefon and copper oxychloride; herbi­cides: oxyfluorfen, paraquat, glyfosate and glyfosate + terbutilazina; spray additives: Agral, Agrotin, Mezclafix and Mixel; foliar fertilizer: Tottal. The inhibition measured in percentage at 24 h after germination for the CD and 1/2CD was respectively, for the in­secticides: pirimifos methyl (98.16 and 57.43%), clorpirifos (97.42 and 58.95%), fenitrothion (100 and 100%) and endosulfan (96.94 and 69.75%); for fungicides: cyproco­nazol (98.79 and 96.37%), hexaconazol (58.08 and 36.56%) and triamidefon (100 and 95.11%); for herbicides: oxyfluorfen (100 and 100%) and paraquat (99.06 and 98.80%); for spray additives: Mixel (43.06 y 28.93%). The other substances tested had less inhibitory effect (<30%). The fungistatic effect of the pesticides on the fungus decreased 48 h after germination.