Compatibility of Neutral Detergent With the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium Anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok.

Abstract

Entomopathogenic fungi have been widely used in pests control. The main diluent for its application in the field is water, and due to its hydrophobic character, its dispersion in the environment is complicated. Several products may be mixed to the sprays, allowing the dissolution and the dispersion of the fungus in the spray. Yet, some of these products may influence in the viability, sporulation or even in its genetic composition, changing its virulence. This paper aimed to evaluate the effect of a neutral detergent about the viability of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. Three different concentrations of a neutral detergent (Ipê®) were used: 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03% and an adhesive spreader (Tween 80) was used in the control. The percentage of conidia germination, the number of colony forming units (CFU), vegetative growth and the number of produced conidia were evaluated. There was no effect of the different concentrations of the neutral detergent on the germination. All detergent concentrations affected negatively in the vegetative growth of the fungus. Only the detergent at 0.01% of concentration did not affect the CFU number and the conidia production of the fungus. So, this is the only concentration classified as compatible for M. anisopliae, which may be recommended to promote the conidia dispersion of this fungus species in water.

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“…This was expected because Tween® 20 is a non-ionic surfactant and emulsifier that is widely used as an additive in microbiological growth media, providing microorganisms with exogenous fatty acid, which can be used as an additional energy source and thus promoting and accelerating growth (Ando et al, 1959;Castro et al, 2003;Harterreiten-Souza et al, 2011). According to several authors (Castro et al, 2003;Partanen et al, 2001;Nielsen et al, 2016), Tween® 20 has a growth-promoting effect in bacterial and yeast strains due to i) the change in nutrient availability caused by the reduction in nutrient particle size and homogeneity, ii) the fact that microorganisms with lipase enzymes can use Tween® 20 as a nutrient, and iii) the fact that the surfactant helps nutrients enter cells by permeabilization of the cell membrane.…”