Temperature tolerance and persistence of promising native Metarhizium isolates for use in chili pepper farms in Ghana
radial growth (at 6-40 °C) indicated that all isolates could grow between 15 and 35 °C, with optimum development occurring between 25 and 27 °C. No growth occurred at 6, 8, 38, and 40 °C. Two-month semi-field persistence trials using sterile soil inoculated with each respective isolate and buried in chili pepper farms at Adidome, Peki, and the University of Ghana, demonstrated that both isolates remained viable in the soil throughout the trial period and retained their infectivity against FCM. These results highlight the potential of these Ghanaian isolates against subterranean life stages of FCM. The need for further evaluations, particularly field trials, is therefore imperative for the development of an effective and sustainable control option for FCM in chili peppers in Ghana.
Authors
- Vincent Yao Eziah
- Drauzio E.N. Rangel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7188-100X)
- Michael Osae (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6465-5036)
- Dalia Sukmawati (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9641-9321)
- Samuel K. Kumahor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8873-6893)
- Candice Coombes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3868-0895)
- Alene Alder-Rangel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3544-9958)
- Mavis Agyeiwaa Acheampong
- Patricia Akua Sitsofe Nyahe
- Monica Akumyoungta
- Isaac Nortey
Institutions
- Federal Institute of São Paulo (BR)
- University of Ghana (GH)
- Rhodes University (ZA)
- State University of Jakarta (ID)
- Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GH)
- Gender Studies (CZ)
- Biotechnology Research Institute (CA)
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Fungal Biology
- Published
- 2026-04-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/ffunb.2026.1780941
- Primary Topic
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World