Strategies for integrating Metarhizium anisopliae and chemical pesticides in sustainable pest management

Abstract

The compatibility of Metarhizium anisopliae isolates with different insecticides and assesses their growth performance in response to various formulations. Mycelial growth was measured for 11 M. anisopliae isolates exposed to seven insecticides. The results of the mycelial growth of Metarhizium anisopliae isolates in response to various insecticides revealed notable differences across the different treatments. Imidacloprid (17.8% SL) had a moderate inhibitory effect on fungal growth, with isolates like Ma-8 showing the highest growth (49.54 mm), while Ma-5 and Ma-6 showed reduced growth (30.77 mm and 25.74 mm, respectively). Profenophos (50% EC) exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect, with growth dropping to very low levels, especially for Ma-3 (1.46 mm). Chlorantraniliprole (18.50% SC) showed moderate inhibition, with Ma-9 showing relatively better growth (43.97 mm), while Cypermethrin (10% EC) had the most pronounced impact on Ma-9 (58.97 mm). Emamectin benzoate (5% SG) and Thiamethoxam + Lambda-cyhalothrin (12.6% + 9.5% ZC) also had varying impacts, with Ma-9 and Ma-8 exhibiting relatively higher growth (39.15 mm and 45.03 mm, respectively). The combined formulation of Chlorantraniliprole + Lambda showed moderate effects on most isolates, while the control group (without insecticide) showed the highest mycelial growth across all isolates, confirming that the insecticides negatively affect fungal growth.