Effect pesticides to entomopathogen fungi from citrus orchard in vitro

Abstract Pesticides are a group of chemicals that are intentionally applied to the environment with the aim of suppressing pests and plant diseases and protecting agricultural products. Most pesticides do not specifically target pests and diseases only during application, but also affect the products produced and human health due to the residue and the effect on non-target pests including entomopathogen. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pesticides applied in controlling pests and diseases of citrus plants towards the growth of entomopathogenic fungi in vitro. This test used three active ingredients of pesticides namely Mankozeb (fungicide), Profenofos and Lambda cyhalothrin (insecticides). Dosage of pesticides in the treatments were 0.25 times, 1-time, 2-times of the recommended doses and control (without pesticides). Five types of entomopathogenic fungi used were Metarhizium anisopliae, Hirsutella sp., Beauveria bassiana, Paecilomyces sp. and TB.8 (not yet identified). Each treatment with 3 replications. The size of entomopathogenic fungi showed the influence of pesticides on the growth of entomopathogenic fungi. A quarter dose of profenofos insecticide had the potential to inhibit the growth of all isolates, except M. anisopliae. All isolates did not show significant growth reductions after treated with various doses of Lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide. Mancozeb fungicide had a negative effect on the growth of all entomopathogenic fungi isolates. The highest spore density on the 21st days was Paecilomyces sp. under the Profenofos treatment. Lambda-cyhalothrin did not affect the spore productions in all entomopathogenic fungi isolates. Otherwise, spore production was not observed even at the lowest concentrations of Mancozeb treatment. Differences in the active ingredients of pesticide affected the growth and sporulation of entomopathogen.