EXISTENCE OF BEAUVERIA BASSIANA (BALSAMO) VULLEMIN AS ENDOPHYTE ON ONION PLANTS AND ITS PATHOGENICITY (IN VITRO) AGAINST ONION THRIPS, THRIPS TABACI LIND. (THYSANOPTERA: THIRPDAE)

Abstract

Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) was successfully isolated from the leaves of onion plants, Allium cepa Lind. cultivated in the Experimental Farm of AssiutUniversity. Morphological characters of the fungus were described. Moreover, the pathogenicity of this isolate was assayed (dipping technique) against onion thrips, nympal and adult stages (In vitro). Six concentrations (13x10⁴, 29x10⁴, 42x10⁴, 64x10⁴, 86x10⁴ and 104x10⁴ conidia / ml) were used. Our results demonstrated that mortality increased as the conidial concentrations increased. It seems that the concentration of 104 x 10⁴ conidia / ml is an effective to get sufficient mortality for the nymphal stage (92.50%) and adult stage (88.46%). In general, results refer that B. bassiana isolated from onion leaves at the concentration of 104x10⁴ spores/ml is effective to get about 90% mortality for the onion thrips regardless of the pest stage. Also, virulence of B. bassiana against onion thrips (nymphal and adult stages) elucidated that the fungus was more effective on nymphal than adult stage as indicated by low value of LC₅₀ and LC₉₅. The present results reflect the potential role that can be played by B. bassiana endophyte in the biological control of thrips infesting onion plants under field conditions.

Keywords

• : Beauveria bassiana,endophyte,onion plant

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