Uso de fungos entomopatogênicos no manejo de ácaros-praga de importância agrícola na fruticultura: uma revisão bibliográfica

Abstract

Fruit cultivation faces constant phytosanitary challenges due to the incidence of pest mites, which has driven the growth of biological control as a sustainable alternative to the intensive use of chemical pesticides. In this context, this study aimed to gather and analyze information on the use of entomopathogenic fungi as control agents for these mites in fruit crops, highlighting the main genera, reported efficiency, and research gaps. The methodology adopted consisted of a Guided Literature Review, with a qualitative-quantitative approach, carried out through searches in the Google Scholar, SciELO, and CAPES Periodicals databases, spanning the period from 2008 to 2025. After applying selection criteria to an initial pool of 1,560 publications, 16 studies relevant to the fruit production chain were analyzed. The results demonstrated the predominance of the genera Beauveria and Metarhizium, which account for over 60% of the research, followed by the genus Cordyceps with 17.6%. The analysis evidenced mortality rates exceeding 90% in the laboratory, contrasting with the variability of efficiency in the field due to the fungi's sensitivity to abiotic factors. It was also observed that the association of fungi with chemical acaricides can promote synergism, while the mixture between different fungal species tends towards antagonism. Thus, the use of entomopathogenic fungi constitutes an effective strategy for controlling pest mites in fruit crops; however, greater advances in formulation technologies and the selection of specific isolates are needed to ensure their technical viability in Integrated Pest Management.