بررسی اثر اندوفیتی قارچ Beauveria bassiana بر مرگ و میر سفیدبالک گلخانه (Hem.: Aleyrodidae) Trialeurodes vaporariorum و برخی از صفات بیوشیمیایی گوجه‌فرنگی

Using entomopathogens for microbial control of insect pests has received increasing attention in recent years. Entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana is one of the most important microbial control agents. Based on many research, B. bassiana has been shown to colonize some plants as endophyte, and controls insects systemically with no harmful effects or damages to the host plant. In this study, the endophytic effect of B. bassiana (isolate TV) was examined on mortality and longevity of the developmental stages of Trialeurodes vaporariorum and some biochemical traits of tomato plants (cv. Falat). B. bassiana was inoculated with leaf spraying on plant treatments. Two weeks after inoculation, greenhouse whitefly adults were introduced on the treated plants and removed after 48 hours. The mortality rate of egg, all nymphal stages and adults and longevity of pre-adult was assessed. Significant increases in mortalities of nymphs and adults of the greenhouse whitefly were recorded on B. bassiana-endophyt plants. The total phenolic, protein contents, antosianin of tomato plants were increased by endophyte colonization. For the first report in this study, the colonization of B. bassiana (isolate TV) as an endophytic fungus in tomato plant (cv. Falat) and its negative effects on mortality and longevity of different developmental stages of T. vaporariorum were reported. Additionally, the fungal endophyte affects on promotion of the total phenolic and protein contents and antosianin of tomato plants. Based on our results, the endophytic role of B. bassiana could be considered as a suitable agent in integrated pest management.