Virulence of entomopathogenic Fusarium solani strains against Aphis craccivora (Koch, 1854) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

In July 2024, the white-flowered false acacia, Robinia pseudoacacia, in Erzurum, Türkiye, was heavily infested with Aphis craccivora. Four different entomopathogenic fungal strains isolated from the soil of agricultural fields were used to control this insect. Based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence of the fungi, the strains were determined to be Fusarium solani. The I (Igdır) and E (Erzurum) strains were clustered together, while the other two Trabzon strains (Şana, TS, and Maçka, TM) were clustered on a separate branch. A virulence study was carried out with F. solani strains (F. solani TS, TM, E, and I). Five different doses of these strains (2 × 104 to 2 × 108 conidia/mL-1) were applied as sprays to 30 adult A. craccivora. On the 7th day of application, TM strain was also 100% effective at lower doses (2 × 105 to 2 × 108 conidia/mL-1). The LD50 value was calculated as 0.62 x 104, 0.65 x 104, 1.03 x 104, and 1.92 x 104 conidia/mL-1 for F. solani strains TM, E, I, and TS, respectively. Thus, all strains, especially TM, were shown to be promising potential microbial agents for the control of this insect.