ENDOPHYTIC COLONIZATION OF TWO ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI ON TOMATO PLANT AND THEIR MORTALITY EFFECTS AGAINST THE SOUTH AMERICAN TOMATO PINWORM, Tuta absoluta (MEYRICK) (LEPIDOPTERA: GELECHIIDAE)

Abstract

In this study, the endophytic colonization on tomato plant of the entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Sordariomycetes: Hypocreales) and Isaria farinosa (Holmsk.) Fries (Sordariomycetes: Hypocreales) using different inoculation techniques and their mortality effects on South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) larvae were determined. Experiments were conducted in a climate-cabinet under conditions at 25 ± 1 ˚C, 16L:8D and 60 ± 2% RH. While it was observed that the colonization rate of the plants treated with B. bassiana or I. farinosa increased as the weeks progressed, the highest fungal colonization for both isolates was obtained in the leaf spraying method as %100 and %96 respectively. It was determined that there was no statistical difference between the colonization rates of both fungal isolates inoculated to tomato plants with the same inoculation method on the leaves examined in the same weeks. When the mortality effects of different inoculation methods on T. absoluta larvae were examined, there was no statistical difference between the fungal isolates, while the highest larval mortality rate was obtained in the seed treatment of B. bassiana with 64%. At the end of the study, promising findings were obtained that both entomopathogenic fungi can be used in integrated pest management of T. absoluta.