Beauveria bassiana In Vitro Compatibility with Pesticides: A Mixture Efficacy Prediction against the Sugar Cane Weevil, Sphenophorus levis

Abstract

In vitro compatibility assays are required to identify incompatible tank mixtures. The selected <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> strain IBCB 170 and 11 pesticides registered against <i>Shenophorus levis</i> (half, complete, and double doses) were added to PDA medium. After incubation, the colonies were measured using ImageJ software, and conidial counting and germination were obtained using a light microscope. The data were analyzed using Tukey's 5% test, and the degree of compatibility was determined using a biological index (BI). All mixtures reduced vegetative growth, except for DiamanteSC and AltacorWG, at full and double doses. Singular BRSC and DiamanteSC produced conidia similar to those of the control. DiamanteSC, Imidacloprid Nortox 480SC, and Regent 800WG showed similar viability to the control at half the dose. Indeed, SingularBR SC is compatible with full and double doses, whereas DiamanteSC is only compatible with full doses. These data highlight the need for compatibility laboratory evaluation before field application.