Natural occurrence of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Moniliales: Moniliaceae) and pathogenicity on Protortonia navesi Fonseca (Hemiptera: Monophlebiidae) in cassava plantation, in Marechal Cândido Rondon, Paraná

ABSTRACT:The objective of this study was to record the first natural occurrence and pathogenicity of the association between Beauveria bassiana and Protortonia navesi in the cassava crop. Infected P. navesi nymphs and adults were collected in samples fortnightly in the Agronomic Institute of Paraná, in Marechal Cândido Rondon, from January to December 2012. Samples were analyzed at the Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology. The entomopathogenic fungus was isolated from corpses using selective oatmeal culture medium, and multiplied for sporulation being identified as Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. The fungus was stored in the Collection of Entomopathogenic Fungi Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology, identified as Unioeste 78. To prove the pathogenicity of the found isolate, bioassays were performed following the postulate of Koch, the fungi suspension was sprayed (109conídios mL), on nymphs and adults of P. navesiobtained from laboratory rearing. After 10 days of incubation there was 18% mortality confirmed, being considered low actgivity on mealybugs Protortonia.