Efeito do óleo essencial de Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth sobre a germinação e unidades formadoras de colônias (UFCs) do fungo entomopatogênico Metarhizium anisopliae (METSCH)

Abstract

The continuous use of non-selective chemicals to control insect pests, as the main means of control, caused the emergence of secondary pests, damage to the environment and human health. As a way to reduce the damage caused by these compounds, an alternative is the use of more than one control method, such as entomopathogenic fungi associated with essential oils, that is, the association of biological control with botanical insecticides, in the control of insect pests. However, compatibility tests are important to ensure that they work together. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the essential oil of Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli) on the germination and colony forming units (CFU) of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, at different concentrations of the essential oil (2.0%, 1.5 %, 1.0%, 0.5% and 0.0%). For this, the biological parameters of M. anisopliae such as germination and colony forming units (CFUS) were evaluated when in contact with the essential oil of P. cablin. Patchouli essential oil at different concentrations showed no significant difference in the germination of the entomopathogenic fungus M. anisopliae, the CFUs at a concentration of 2.0% of the oil potentiated the development of the entomopathogenic fungus when compared to the control.