Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin ARP14 for the control of Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida on greenhouse strawberry

The spider mite Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida is a significant pest of strawberry crops. This study evaluated the virulence of a native strain (ARP14) of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin in comparison with a commercial strain (GHA) under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Laboratory leaf-dip bioassays showed that ARP14 caused faster mortality in adult mites. In the greenhouse, both fungal strains significantly reduced the mite densities compared to the Triton X-100 control with mycosis rates higher than 85.5% at 14 days post-foliar spray. In coclusion, the native strain ARP14 can be a candidate of mycoinsecticides for managing T. kanzawai.