Evaluation of Isaria fumosorosea CCM 8367 against Tuta absoluta

Tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta, is an invasive pest in Europe causing serious damage mainly in greenhouses. The aim of our study was to assess the strain CCM 8367 of entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosea (syn. Paecilomyces fumosoroseus) against this pest. The strain originated from the horse chestnut leaf miner, Cameraria ohridella, and is deposited as a patent culture in the Czech Collection of Microorganisms in Brno. Young tomato plants with T. absoluta eggs were treated by suspension of fungus blastospores at concentration 5x10⁷ blastospores mL^-1 using a hand sprayer. Number of T. absoluta larvae was recorded seven days later. The obtained results revealed that blastospores of I. fumosorosea CCM 8367 reduced number of T. absoluta by 57% compared to control plants treated with distilled water and soaking agent only. The effect of the fungus was statistically significant. Further research is ongoing to verify potential of the strain as a novel agent for biological control of T. absoluta.