VIRULENCE OF BEAUVERIA-BASSIANA (DEUTEROMYCETES) STRAINS AGAINST THE COFFEE BERRY BORER (COLEOPTERA, SCOLYTIDAE)

The virulence of 9 strains of the fungus Beauveria brassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin against the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrar i), was determined under laboratory conditions. Results show that B, b assiana is a potential microbial agent suitable for incorporation into a program of integrated control directed against H. hampei The 3 most aggressive strains were Bb-4 (Ecuador), Bb-25 (Mexico), and Bb-26 (Me xico) with LC(50)s of 0.003, 0.004, and 0.006%, respectively. which ar e equivalent to 2.2 x 10(6), 4.1 x 10(6), and 5.9 x 10(6) conidia per milliliter of suspension. Mean lethal times (TL50) were between 4.3 an d 7.5 d. The maximum percentage of cadavers that sporulated was obtain ed with strain Bb-25 at 90%, with 81.9% registered for Bb-17 and 81.9% for Bb-26. The lowest percentage of sporulation was observed for Bb-1 4 at 62%.