D3060: Metarhizium fungi as a seed inoculant: A potential tool for pest management in coffee crops

Species in the Metarhizium (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) genera are entomopathogenic fungi and can be found associate with plants rhizosphere and also as endophytes. However, studies on how these fungi interact with plants are needed to understand how they are able to promote pest control in crops. Here we isolated two species of Metarhizium from diversified coffee systems in Brazil, and examine the potential for coffee seed inoculantion to provide protection against the coffee leaf miner (CLM) (Leucoptera coffeella). We inoculate the fungi in coffee seeds and conducted the experiment in a greenhouse at the seedling stage in cages with two couples of CLM. After the inocculation, we confirmed the fungus presence and evaluated the CLM’s time development between the stages. Compared to the controls, insects that feed on plants from seeds treated with both isolates increased the time spend between egg to pupa stages and we also saw a reduction in the number of eggs from the emmerging adults. The inoculation the two Metarhizium fungi on coffee seeds reduce the number of generations of the pest and appears promising for protection against CLM.