Preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of a Verticillium lecanii isolate in the control of Thrips tabaci (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Thrips tabaci is a polyphagous pest that attacks many different crop and ornamental plant species. Recently, the need to reduce the use of insecticides in the control of thrips is more and more increasing. On that account, the possibility to make use of the entomopathogenic fungus Verticillium lecanii (DAOM198499) was evaluated in laboratory conditions. Suspension of 10(3) to 10(7) conidia/ml grown in liquid culture medium with a control (distilled water) treated on second larval stage of T. tabaci in controlled condition (16L: 8D photoperiod, 25 +/- 1 degrees C temperature, 98% RH in first 48h and 70% RH in next days). Preliminary results showed that mortality in lethal suspension (10(7) conidia/ml) of V. lecanii after 24 hours and 2-7 days in lower suspension appears. This suggests that strine DAOM 198499 of V. lecanii has the ability to control T. tabaci in greenhouse conditions.