Enhanced Thermotolerance of Entomopathogenic Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae JEF-isolates by Substrate Modification

Entomopathogenic Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are well-known biological control agents worldwide, and have high potential in industrialization. However, their thermo-susceptibility limits long-term storage under high temperature conditions and insecticidal activity after application in target pests. The virulences of M. anisopliae JEF-003 and JEF- 004, and B. bassiana JEF-006 and JEF-007 against bean bug (Riptortus pedestris), and the thermotolerance of conidia produced on three kinds of grains, sorghum, millet and Italian millet as substrates for solid cultures were investigated. Of the three grains, Italian millet was the suitable grains in the production of thermotolerant conidia, and a significant relationship between conidial thermotolerance and the media was demonstrated. This work suggests that biological characteristics of entomopathogenic fungi are altered by culture media, and these results will be a chance to understand the factors in the media which make such changes.