Pathogenicity of a Fusarium sp. isolate found infecting the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei
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Abstract
During field surveys of native natural enemies attacking the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei, carried out by the Entomology Department of Cenicafé, the fungus Fusarium sp. was observed in several localities attacking the borer. Samples were purified in culture, coded and sent to IIBC, UK, where they were identified as E oxysporum and E solani. Aspects of the biology of the isolate Fu 9401 from El Reflejo (Quindío) were studied in the laboratory, viz. percentage germination, radial growth rate, and spore production. This isolate was cultured in acidified Sabouraud-Dextrose-Agar for 30 days and from this, a preparation was malle of a concentration of 5.4x108 spores/ml consisting of 100% microconidia and used to evaluate the pathogenicity of the fungus on adults of H. hampei. The insects were immersed in the spore suspension for 2 minutes, and 24 hours later offered either a green coffee berry or a parchment coffee bean (40% humidity). The insects of the check (no immersion) were offered parchment beans. Mortalities of 45 ± 17.8% (3Z ± S.D.) were obtained using green berries and 26.3 ±. 14.1% with parchment beans. The average time to reach these mortalities was 8.6 ± 2.6 days and 7.9± 3.0 days, respectively. It was not possible to calculate the mean lethal time (LT50) from the results. Further tests need to be carried out using higher concentrations of macroconidia and for the evaluation of other isolates collected from the field.
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