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Endophytic potential of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill against sap-sucking insect pests in kiwi trees and cotton plants
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1
Department of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, Arta Campus, 47100, Arta, Greece
2
-, Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Terma Alkmanos Ilisia, 11528, Athina, Greece
A - Research concept and design; B - Collection and/or assembly of data; C - Data analysis and interpretation; D - Writing the article; E - Critical revision of the article; F - Final approval of article
Submission date: 2025-08-24
Acceptance date: 2025-12-19
Online publication date: 2026-03-05
Corresponding author
Vasileios Papantzikos
Department of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, Arta Campus, 47100, Arta, Greece
HIGHLIGHTS
- Evaluation of the entomopathogenic action of B. bassiana on BMSB and cotton aphid
- Innoculation on kiwi tree trunk
- Application as seed coating on cotton seed
- Monitoring of total chlorophyll content and leaf area for both cases
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ABSTRACT
Beauveria bassiana has proven to be an efficient crop colonizer regarding its highly entomopathogenic effect against a wide range of sucking pests. In this work, two different application methods of B. bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) were studied over two years. In one case, the strain (PPRI5339) was introduced as a coating on cotton seeds (A) and applied via syringe inoculation to the kiwi tree trunk (B). In the control (C) treatments of each case, untreated plants were used. The sucking insects Aphis gossypii (Glover) on cotton plants and Halyomorpha halys (Stål) on kiwi trees were counted, and the total chlorophyll content and leaf area were also measured. The presence of B. bassiana not only reduced the population of sucking pests but also enhanced the total chlorophyll content and the leaf area in both crops. The results of these application methods are promising, encouraging the potential of this strain for further study as an environmentally friendly method against sucking pests that highly impair agricultural production.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have declared that no conflict of interests exist.