Infection of silkworm larvae by the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae

Infecção de lagartas do bicho-da-seda pelo fungo entomopatogênico Metarhizium anisopliae

ABSTRACT:

The isolate E9 of Metarhizium anisopliae was used in commercial hybrids of Bombyx mori larvae to evaluate its biological effect. Symptomatological analyses showed typical signs of fungal infection. Histopathology revealed the presence of large numbers of hemocytes in the hemocoel, and on the sixth dpi the bodies of the insects appeared to be colonised by the fungus. The isolate E9 is pathogenic to larvae B. mori and; therefore, death of the insects was caused by the colonization of fungus in the epidermal and mesodermal tissues.

Key words:
Bombyx mori; histopathology; Metarhizium anisopliae; fungal infection