<i>In planta</i> colonisation of <i>Beauveria bassiana</i> in cotton plant and its effect against insect pests

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of artificial establishment of Beauveria bassiana as endophyte in cotton plant using different inoculation methods, and aimed to determine the effect of colonisation in cotton plant on key insect pests of cotton. Eight strains of B. bassiana isolated as endophytes were used in this experiment. The strains B. bassiana isolated as endophytes were concentrated at 1×108 conidia ml ?1 and bioassays were conducted under laboratory conditions on Aphis gossypii, Spodoptera litura and Pectinophora gossypiella. These endophytic strains demonstrated high virulence against above mentioned insects. Different inoculation methods were used to establish B. bassiana as endophyte in cotton plants. Endophytic colonisation of B. bassiana was successful in cotton plant. Beauveria bassiana colonised plant infested with insect was monitored at different time intervals. Survival of the insect was affected considerably in the B. bassiana inoculated plant. The current study clearly indicated that strains of B. bassiana isolated as endophytes caused the mortality of A. gosypii, S. litura and P. gossypiella as an entomopathogen and also as an endophyte.