Biological control of symphylid pests in a commercial chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora) crop using the fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum, strain UdeA0106

Abstract

The symphylids, also known as garden centipedes or pseudocentipedes, are soil-dwelling arthropods of the class Symphyla. They affect diverse crops worldwide due to the consumption of young roots and seedlings. This study presents the effectiveness of the fungus Purpureocillium lilacinum (strain UdeA0106) to reduce the symphylid population under commercial greenhouse conditions. The results showed that this fungus strain could reduce symphylid density by 70.6%. It also demonstrated that a high concentration of strain UdeA0106 helped to recover chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandifIora) crops infested with symphylid. The results shown in this paper are the first evidence of effective biological control of symphylids pest in a commercial fIower plantation, representing the potential of P. lilacinum strain UdeA0106 as a biological control agent.