© Benaki Phytopathological Institute
Hellenic Plant Protection Journal
9:
66-72, 2016
DOI 10.1515/hppj-2016-0008
Süleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Agriculture,
Department of Plant Protection 32260 Isparta-Turkey
* Corresponding author:
Short generation period, high repro-
ductive capacity and thigmotactic behav-
iour of
F
.
occidentalis
are reasons that make
it difficult to control. In addition, rapid resis-
tance development ability against insecti-
cides also contributes to the difficulty in the
control of
F
.
occidentalis
. The WFT is known
to be resistant to carbamates (bendiocarb,
formetanate, methiocarb), organophos-
phates (diazinon), spinosyn (spinosad) and
pyrethroids (acrinathrin, deltamethrin, fen-
valerate, permethrin) (Jensen, 2000; Bielza,
2008; Cloyd, 2009).
Besides the difficulties in the suppression
of thrips populations, chemical insecticides
are known to have side effects on the natural
enemies of the WFT (Goettel and Hajek, 2000;
Pell
et al
., 2001; Jones
et al
., 2005; Demirözer
et
al
., 2012). Since entomopathogens are specif-
ic to their hosts and they reproduce they are
a desirable alternative in pest control (Charn-
ley and Collins, 2007). Additionally, low risk
on the non-target organisims supports safe-
use of entomopathogens in control practic-
es (Eilenberg
et al
., 2001; Augustyniuk-Kram
& Kram, 2012; Shadid
et al
., 2012).
There are 750 known species of entomo-
pathogenic fungi, which belong to 85 ge-
Insecticidal effect of
Fusarium subglutinans
on
Frankliniella
occidentalis
(Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
O. Demirözer*, A. Uzun, Ş.-E. Arici, İ. Gep and R. Bakay
Summary
Fusarium subglutinans
(Ascomycota: Nectriaceae) is known to have lethal effects on aphid
species, while there are limited studies associated with other arthropods. In this study, the effect of dif-
ferent spore concentrations (1x10
4
, 1x10
6
and 1x10
8
spores/ml) of
F
.
subglutinans
12A, isolated from
Ap-
his gossypii
in Adana-Karataş (Turkey), was investigated on
Frankliniella occidentalis
(Pergande) (Thysa-
noptera: Thripidae) females and on 2
nd
instar nymphs (only 1x10
6
spores/ml). The application method
was by dipping and observations on mortality of females were conducted 24, 48, 72, 96 hours and 7
and 9 days after application. Mycosis was also observed on dead individulas. Mortality of nymphs was
recorded during 8 days after application. Higher average dead females were found in the treatments
compared to the control, but there was not significant difference between the tested concentrations
(Mycosis rate recorded in 1x10
6
spores/ml was higher than those in 1x10
4
and 1x10
8
spores/ml). The hig-
hest and lowest mycosis rates were observed on the 7
th
and 3
rd
day, respectively. Average number of
dead 2
nd
instar nymphs recorded in 1x10
6
spores/ml did not differ from control.
Additional keywords
: Biological control, entomopathogenic fungi, pest, thrips
Introduction
The Western Flower Thrips (WFT)
Franklin-
iella occidentalis
(Pergande) (Thysanoptera:
Thripidae) is a serious pest feeding on
leaves, fruits and flowers and causing direct
and indirect damages on agricultural crops
and ornamental plants (Bryan and Smith,
1956; Miliczky and Horton, 2011; Demiröz-
er
et al
., 2012). Due to significant number of
thrips vectors for viral pathogens, they are
known as destructive pests worldwide.
The WFT spread to the World from
North-West of the United States (Kirk and
Terry, 2002). The first presence of WFT in
Turkey was recorded in vegetable fields of
Antalya (Western Mediterranean region) in
1993 (Tunç and Göçmen, 1994) and in a very
short time it suppressed the
Frankliniella in-
tonsa
(Trybom) which was the main thrips
species in cotton fields in Çukurova region
(East Mediterranean) (Atakan
et al
., 1998; At-
akan and Özgür, 1998; 2000; Atakan, 2003;
Doğanlar and Aydin, 2009).
