Effects of endophytic Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) on biological, reproductive parameters and food preference of the soybean pest Helicoverpa gelotopoeon

RUSSO, M.L.; SCORSETTI, A.C.; VIANNA, M.F.; ALLEGRUCCI, N.; FERRERI, N.A.; CABELLO, M.N.; PELIZZA, S.A.

Journal of King Saud University - Science

Elsevier España

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2019 vol. 31 p. 1077 - 1082

1018-3647

Objectives: We studied Beauveria bassiana ability to endophytic colonize soybean and its effects on somebiological and reproductive parameters and on the food preference of Helicoverpa gelotopoeon, a polyphagousplague of several agronomic crops.Methods: A suspension of 1 108 conidia ml1 of B. bassiana (LPSC 1098), was inoculated in soybeanplants using the leaf spraying method. H. gelotopoeon survival, developement, fecundity and fertility wereregistered to evaluate fungal effect. Also, food preference was determined by the free-choice method.Results: B. bassiana as an endophyte adversely affected the duration of the larval stages (L1, L2, L3, L4)and of the adult stages, as well as the total duration of the life cycle. Furthermore, the oviposition period,fecundity and fertility of H. gelotopoeon decreased. This is the first report of decreased consumption ofsoybean leaves by H. gelotopoeon due to endophytic B. bassiana.Conclusions: This investigation shows that endophytic fungi could be considered as useful microorganismsfor the integrated pest management.