Long-term preservation of Neozygites tanajoae (Entomophthorales: Neozygitaceae) in cadavers of Mononychellus tanajoae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

To determine the effect of storage on fungal survival, mummified cadavers of the cassava green mite pathogen, Neozygites tanajoae were placed at different conditions of temperature and relative humidity. The best condition for long-term preservation was −10°C. At this condition, the fungus retained viability for 10 years when the experiment was terminated, with a decrease in sporulation with time. Cadavers placed at 4°C and 5% RH sporulated for 2 years, while the fungus survived for only 7 days at 25°C and 50% RH.

Keywords:

• Neozygites tanajoae
• temperature
• relative humidity
• Mononychellus tanajoa
• sporulation
• preservation

Acknowledgements

This study was partially supported by the United Nations Development Program (GLO/91/013) as part of a collaborative research project by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). We thank Corifeu F. Buzetti for technical assistance.