Técnicas e parâmetros utilizados nos estudos de compatibilidade entre fungos entomopatogênicos e produtos fitossanitários 1 Techniques and parameters used in compatibility studies between entomopathogenic fungi and phytosanitary products 1

Fungi are important biological control agents of pests, because they can infect the insect at several developmental stages. The interactions between these microorganisms and phytosanitary products must be taken into account in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, much the same way as it is done for predator and parasitoid insects. The adoption of products that are selective to entomopathogenic fungi will provide greater efficiency in the preservation of the entomopathogen, enhancing biological control. Selectivity/compatibility studies are, for the most part, conducted in the form of in vitro tests because of their convenience in relation to field studies. However, the methods used in in vitro tests for obtaining contact between products and entomopathogenic fungi, in addition to the evaluated parameters, 1