The Endophytism of Bacillus thuringiensis in Cotton Plants at Acquisition and Oviposition by Bemisia tabaci

Abstract

Beneficial microorganisms can be applied on the soil or seeds and can protect plants against insect pests or pathogens. It is known which Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strains that, when introduced into the soil can be absorbed by the plant and translocate throughout this with insecticidal activity against insect pests that feed on them. For this reason, the ability of Bemisia tabaci ‘B biotype’ (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) to ingest Bt sap was evaluated in cotton plants inoculated with the Bt strain, which encodes the GFP gene, Btk-gfp (B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki - green fluorescent protein), and tested for oviposition, comparing untreated plants to those treated with Bt strains. The recovery of Btk-gfp was observed in the plant along with its ability to be acquired by nymphs and adults of B. tabaci. Plants treated with Bt strain S1806 had a lower number of B. tabaci eggs than plants that received only sterile water.