The search for commercially viable entomopathogenic fungi for use in integrated pest management programs involves several steps. Fungal species must first be obtained from diseased insects or the environment and identified. Then, they must be evaluated under laboratory conditions to identify the most promising candidates. Because of that, bioassays must be repeatable and reliable to determine accurate pathogenicity or virulence. Variability in results may be caused by the variation in the components of an assay. However, the availability of a standardized bioassay is limited. Few reports detail the methods used to develop bioassays for a specific purpose and, without these details, it is difficult to develop bioassay methodologies suitable to evaluate the fungus-host relationship. We described a protocol based on the immersion method to evaluate entomopathogenic fungi (larval and adult stages), that can be reproduced to reduce variability. This protocol can be used in several stages of biopesticide development: selection of the biological control agent, characterization of the microorganism, formulation compatibility, and in vitro evaluation of efficacy.
Cloning and Characterization of Aerobactin Biosynthesis Genes of the Biological Control Agent Enterobacter cloacae
