Lobna Rajab*(1), Ibtisam Gazal(1) and Mohammad Ahmad(2)
(1). Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Latakia University, Latakia, Syria.
(2). Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Tartus University, Tartus, Syria.
(*Corresponding Author, Lobna Rajab, E-mail: lobnarajabassiana@gmail.com).
Received:28/09/2024 Accepted: 24/02/2025
Abstract:
The research was carried out at Latakia University, during 2022, and aimed to investigate the direct and endophytic effects of two indigenous isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuil. in protecting the cucumber plant from an infestation of Aphis gossypii under greenhouse conditions. The isolate B243 isolated from soil and the isolate N20 endophytically isolated from a cucumber plant were used for these experiments. The pathogenicity of these isolates against the cotton aphid A. gossypii was tested in the laboratory by feeding aphids on cucumber leaf discs dipped in the fungal spore suspension. The results showed a significant decrease in the resulting population size, reaching 44.35 and 58.49% compared with the control for both isolates B243 and N20, respectively. The effect of both isolates on the infestation of cucumber plants with A. gossypii was studied under greenhouse conditions using three inoculation methods: foliar spray before infested plants with aphids, foliar spray after infested plants with aphids, and root soaking with the spore suspension as the endophytic effect of the fungus. The ability of the fungus to colonize plant parts was also studied after each of these methods. The results showed that the fungus was able to colonize the leaves, roots, and stems after root soaking only. Application of B. bassiana, whether through root inoculation or direct spray after infestation, was effective in reducing the infestation of cucumber plants with cotton aphids in the greenhouse. Both treatments reduced the individual fertility and the community size by a reduction percentage of 85.39 and 74.02% for the community of each of B243 and N20, respectively.
Keywords: Entomopathogenic Fingi, Endophytic Colonization, Beauveria bassiana, Aphis gossypii.
Full Paper in Arabic: pdf