The experiment was conducted to aims at: (i) identify the species from the genus Metarhizium
inciting insect diseases by traditional techniques use of term based on the morphological
characteristics; (ii) classify and analyse the genetic differences of fungus Metarhizium based on the
sequences of ITS-rDNA region; (iii) evaluate the efficacy of Metarhizium inciting disease on the
Sweet potato Weevil (Cylas formicarius Fabricius).
The results of isolation and identification based on traditional techniques and some techniques such
as molecular biology, PCR amplification, sequencing, comparison and analysis of the sequences of
DNA on ITS-rDNA region showed that seven isolated samples belonged to Metarhizium anisopliae
species. Comparing the sequences of DNA on analyzed samples with ones on Genbank, seven
samples collected from some provinces in the Mekong Delta had high degree on the similarity (from
97.5% to 99.7%).
In laboratory condition, all the isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae at a concentration of 108conidia
mL-1 killed the adults of the Sweet potato Weevil from 96,5 to 100% at 5 days after treatment.
Key words: ITS-rDNA region, Metarhizium, Sweetpotato Weevil