Identification of 30 isolates of the Metarhizium spp. via ITS1-5 / 8S-ITS2 sequence

Metarhizium spp., an enthemopathogenic fungus, are usually recognized on the basis of their morphological and molecular characteristics. ITS and S8/5 ribosomal sequences used to identify 30 isolates collected from soils of Shahrood and northern parts of Iran, along with 10 sequences from known species to establish a phylogenetic relationship. Growth rate and conidia production were measured on PDA containing selected fungicide. Suspensions of 108 conidia per ml of the isolates were used against red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum (Col, Tenebrionidae)) adults to assess the biocontrol efficacies of each isolate. The highest growth rates belonged to SHU.J.11, SHU.J.35, SHU.J.22, SHU.J.33, SHU.J.27, SHU.J.24, SHU.J.02 and SHU .J.29. According to Petlamul classification, SHU.J.01 with an average production of 8.025 × 107 was the highest and according to Yip classification, 10 isolates were considered as A-level. Pearson correlation coefficient for the three parameters was statistically significant at 1%. Accordingly, the isolate with greater growth rate, produced more conidia and had greater efficacy in inoculating the host.