[Edited_by_A._Ciancio,_C.N.R.,_Bari,_Italy_and_K.(Bookos.org)

MITE PATHOGENS IN IPM
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and conidia as active ingredients. In a series of field experiments, it was shown that
Mycohit TM is a very effective acaricide that brings down the population to over 90%. For
the application of the product, youngsters are hired that climb into the trees in order to
carry out the applications (Figs. 6 and 7).
Further research has led to the development of Mycohit-M TM , a preparation that
contains only mycelium (Sreerama Kumar & Singh, 2008). The authors also studied
the effect of several adjuvants (glycerol, yeast extract powder and dehydrated malt
extract) on the growth and spore forming of the latter preparation. In the presence of
these adjuvants H. thompsonii biomass produced under laboratory conditions more
colonies and a higher number of conidia. These products also showed protection
against sun irradiation under field conditions. Studies are presently also conducted in
Brazil on the control of the coconut mite by use of H. thompsonii (cf. Van der Geest
et. al., 2000). Various isolates of the fungus were introduced from Mexico into Brazil
and were mass produced on rice and corn grids, but the mortality due to the fungus was
too low (about 35%). However, it was possible to increase the virulence of the fungus by
passage through the host. The fungus has been established in the field, although damage
due to A. guerreronis is still too high.
Figure 6. Spraying of coconut trees with Mycohit. Photograph courtesy of
Dr. P. Sreerama Kumar.