Laboratory and greenhouse tests, including those being conducted by Vandenberg, show promise for controlling aphids and several other insects. In last years experiments, Vandenberg tested the effectiveness of B. bassiana strain of the fungus used in Mycotrol applied to Centennial, an aphid susceptible wheat and IDO-488 and experimental line that has shown some aphid resistance. The plots were 4 feet by 4 feet and were hand sprayed with the product. This year, Vandenberg has expanded the plot size to 10 feet by 20 feet and is hand-spraying the plots at label recommended doses. In addition, he is putting the fungus through irrigation lines on plots that are a tenth of an acre.
Early collections show that aphids have been infected with the fungus through the water.
Both his laboratory and field work show that the fungus attacks and kills most of the aphids within seven or eight days. The fungus also appears to have enough staying power to permeate aphid populations. That's a plus because the aphids tend to curl leaves as they feed which can protect them from control agents. As effective as the B. bassiana fungus is the P. fumosoroseus strain may hold even more promise. It may be cheaper to apply because it takes only one-fifth the number of spores to kill the aphid as B. bassiana and it kills aphids faster.