Inoculation and colonization of the entomopathogenic fungi, Isaria javanica and Purpureocillium lilacinum, in tomato plants, and their effect on seedling growth, mortality and adult emergence of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are natural enemies which affect insect population and have long been recognized as biological control agents against many insect pests. Some isolates have also been established as endophytes, benefiting their host plants without causing any symptoms or negative effects. Here we demonstrated two entomopathogenic fungal species, Isariajavanica (Frieder. & Bally) Samson & Hywel-jone 2005 and Purpureocillium lilacinum (Thom) Luangsa-ard, Hou-braken, Hywel-Jones & Samson (2011) as endophytes in tomato plants by using the seed inoculation method and examined their effect on plant growth, B. tabaci mortality, and adult emergence. Our study indicated that tomato seeds treated with a fungal suspension of I. javanica and P. lilacinum enabled their recovery from plant tissues (root, stem and leaf) up to 60 days after inoculation (DAI). Both endophytic isolates also caused significant mortality of adult B. tabaci on seedlings inoculated with, I. javanica (51.92 +/- 4.78%), and P. lilacinum (45.32 +/- 0.20%) compared to the control treatment (19.29 +/- 2.35). Adult emergence rates were significantly high in the control treatments (57.50 +/- 2.66%) compared to I. javanica (15.00 +/- 1.47%) and P. lilacinum (28.75 +/- 4.78%) treatments. This study provides evidence that endophytic isolates of I. javanica and P. lilacinum have a biocontrol potentials for used against whiteflies and could also explored as plant growth promoters.

Automated summary

In this study, two entomopathogenic fungal species, Isaria javanica and Purpureocillium lilacinum, were found to act as endophytes in tomato plants, benefiting the plants and causing significant mortality of the whitefly pests. This indicates that they have potential as biocontrol agents and plant growth promoters.