Environmental persistence of the conidia of native entomopathogenic fungi and their efficiency on Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of local Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin and Cordyceps fumosorosea (Wize) (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) isolates on Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) (Diptera: Tephritidae) prepupae, during 2020 and 2021 in the Mediterranean Region of Türkiye. In petri dishes, mortality rates varied with doses: for LD.2016 (B. bassiana), between 30 and 60%, for M6-4 (B. bassiana), 30-46%, of IFR (C. fumosorosea), 65-100%. Additionally, differences were detected between the prepupa and pupa periods of the larvae depending on the isolate. In sterile soil studies, the IFR caused mortality rates of 53-93%, while those for the LD.2016 isolate were 20-55%., depending on the doses. In conidial survival studies, the IFR caused mortality rates of 70-93% at 0 months and 44-60% in the 12th month. The LD.2016 mortality was among 37-55% at 0 months, while mortality rates decreased to 2% in the 12th month. The reproductive capacity of adult individuals that emerged alive after infection was negatively affected depending on time and fungal isolate. In semi-controlled field conditions, the IFR isolate had mortality rates varied between 40 and 65%, and LD.2016 mortality rates varied between 34 and 62%, depending on doses. It was observed that the fungi used in the study had potential in biological control of C. capitata.