Formulation and application of the entomopathogenic fungus: Zoophthora radicans (Brefeld) Batko (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales).

AIMS To isolate and formulate a native strain of Zoophthora radicans naturally infecting larvae of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, existing in South Australia and to provide evidence that formulation of the fungus is effective against P. xylostella larvae, and therefore, it could be used as a tool in pest management of this insect. METHODS AND RESULTS Dose-response bioassays using formulated and unformulated forms of the fungus strain were carried out against third instar larvae of P. xylostella. Results obtained have indicated a significant increase in the larval mortality when higher concentrations of a formulated form of the fungus strain were applied compared to the treatments with the unformulated form (85·0 vs 57·5% of larval mortality, respectively, at the top concentration of 10(7) conidia/ml). The median lethal concentration (LC50) for a formulated form was 100 times less than that of the unformulated form when they were applied against the third instar larvae of P. xylostella. In addition, the formulation used in the present bioassays has preserved the viability of introduced fungus conidia for longer time in comparison with the unformulated conidia. CONCLUSIONS The effective application of a formulated fungus strain against P. xylostella larvae constitutes the first step towards its use in pest management of this insect. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The formulated fungus in inverted emulsion could be used as an alternative tool to insecticides in pest management of P. xylostella larvae because of the development of resistance to insecticides in the treated larvae.