The Effect of Plant Extracts of Consolida orientalis, Matricaria chamomilla and Adonis vernalis on The Growth of the Metarhizium anisopliae

Biological pesticides are natural, more environmental friendly, potentially less expensive, and more effective than chemical pesticides, as problems with resistance are less likely to occur. Among biocontrol agents entomopathogenic fungi received major attention in recent years. Several of these fungi cause mortality in the arthropod vectors transmitting diseases between human and animals. One of the most pathogenic fungal species examined for pathogenicity against pests was found to be Metarhizium anisopliae. M. anisopliae is one of major fungal pathogens of insects and its conidial viability may be affected by environmental factors. In this study we examined the effects of three plant extracts Consolida orientalis, Matricaria chamomilla and Adonis vernalis on growth and sporulation of the fungus M. anisopliae in laboratory condition. The extract concentration which was used in herbal formulation consists of 0.1%, 10% and 20% of C. orientalis, 0.2%, 0.5% and 2% of M. chamomilla and 1%, 10% and 20% of A. vernalis. The results showed that significant effect of extracts of 1% and 0.2% of A. vernalis and M. chamomilla on mycelium growth and sporulation of the fungus M. anisopliae respectively. Given the impact of these extracts in eliminating parasitic arthropods, it is possible to combine these extracts and metarazium mushrooms in the biological control of parasite arthropods.