NEW BIOTYPES OF METARHIZIUM-ANISOPLIAE VA R. ANISOPLIAE E9 STRAIN WITH ALTERED CONIDIAL GERMINATION, OBTAINED BY EXPOSITION TO GAMMA-RADIATION

Conidia produced by a wild strain (E9) of the entomopathogenic fungus nd anisopliae var. anisopliae were exposed to gamma radiation in order to obtain new biotypes. At the 390 Gy dose there were obtained 48 col onies (MaE). On Complete Medium, 5 colonies (MaE 01, MaE 10, MaE 15, M aE 24, MaE 40) presented morphological changes in color while the colo ny MaE 24 lost its esporulation capacity. Twenty six colonies presente d mycelial growth significantly different from the wild strain, after 12 days of incubation. Twelve colonies showed average of conidial germ ination different from the wild! strain, after 12 days of incubation o n liquid Minimum Medium at 25 degrees C. The colony MaE 10 started ger mination precociously after 5 hours of incubation.