Composition of entomopathogenic fungus and method of production and application for insect control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11058120-B2
Application number	US-201514854133-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2015
Priority date	Sep 13, 2007
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

Microsclerotia of entomopathogenic fungi, including Metarhizium species, Beauveria species, and Lecanicillium species, may be produced. These microsclerotia are effective for the control of a wide variety of insect pests, particularly soil-dwelling insect pests.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of producing desiccation tolerant fungal microsclerotia, comprising the steps of:
a) inoculating a liquid culture medium comprising a carbon source and a nitrogen source with fungal propagules of an entomopathogenic fungus selected from the group consisting of Metarhizium species, Beauveria species, and Lecanicillium species, said nitrogen source having a concentration between 8.1 grams/liter and 50 grams/liter and said carbon source having a concentration greater than 20 grams/liter;
b) incubating the propagules for a sufficient time to allow for production of micro sclerotia; and
c) collecting the resulting microsclerotia, thereby producing said desiccation tolerant fungal microsclerotia.

2. A method for insect control comprising applying to the locus of said insects an insecticidally effective amount of microsclerotia of an entomopathogenic fungus produced by the method of claim 1 .

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said fungus comprises a Metarhizium species.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said Metarhizium species is M. anisopliae.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein said insects are selected from the group consisting of root weevils, soil grubs, rootworms, wireworms, fruit flies, and root maggots.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said insects are selected from the group consisting of subterranean termites ( Reticulitermes and Coptotermes spp.), corn rootworms ( Diabrotica spp), black vine weevils ( Otiorhynchus sulcatus ), wireworms (larvae of family Elateridae), citrus root weevils ( Diaprepes abbreviatus ), sugarbeet root maggots ( Tetanops myopaeformis ), cabbage/turnip/onion/seed corn maggots ( Delia spp.), carrot rust fly ( Psila rosae ), sweet potato weevils ( Cylas formicarius ), Japanese beetles ( Popillia japonica ), and European chafers ( Rhizotrogus majalis ).

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said applying comprises applying said microsclerotia to soil or greenhouse soilless potting mix.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein said insects are plant foliage or tree bark inhabiting insects selected from the group consisting of emerald ash borer ( Agrilus planipennis ), and gypsy moth ( Lymantria dispar ), and pecan weevil ( Curculio caryae ).

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said microsclerotia are applied to the bark and canopy of plants and trees.

Assignees

• Us Agriculture

Inventors

• Jackson Mark A
• Jaronski Stefan T

Classifications

• A01N63/30 Primary

  Microbial fungi; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom · CPC title

• A01N65/00 Primary

  Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing material from algae, lichens, bryophyta, multi-cellular fungi or plants, or extracts thereof (containing compounds of determined constitution A01N27/00 - A01N59/00) · CPC title

• A01G18/00

  Cultivation of mushrooms · CPC title