Insecticidal activity of Baccharis essential oils against Duponchelia fovealis, toxicity to strawberry leaves, and in vitro biocompatibility with entomopathogenic fungi.

Duponchelia fovealis is responsible for great losses in the strawberry production, and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are an alternative to control this larva. They can be used in combination with other natural compounds with insecticidal activity, such as plant extracts or essential oils (EOs). Thus, our objectives are to evaluate the effects of Baccharis dracunculifolia and Baccharis uncinella EOs on strawberry leaves and third instar larvae of D. fovealis, and to evaluate their in vitro compatibility with strains of Beauveria bassiana and Cordyceps javanica. EOs were not phytotoxic to strawberry leaves at 2% v/v. Larval mortality ranged between 48% and 83% at 1% and 2%, and B. dracunculifolia EO at 2% presented the higher mortality. EO of B. uncinella (BU) at 1% was compatible with two strains of B. bassiana and C. javanica. Therefore, the combined use of BU EO with EPF may be an alternative to control D. fovealis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]