Bioassay evaluation of the entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassaina Vuellemin against eggs and nymphs of Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)

This study was carried out to determine the lethal effect of the entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassaina Vuell. on eggs, young and old nymphs of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Genn. Mortality percentage was significantly differed based on stage of B. tabaci and conidial concentrations of B. bassina. Average of the infection level to insect was very low particularly in eggs with only 4.49%, even with higher conidial concentrations (6 x 10(6) conidia mL(-1)). Whereas, it was higher with 1st and 2nd instars (42.045%) and 3rd and 4th instars (35.93%). Three parameters was assessed with B. tabaci eggs, namely; egg infection, egg hatchability and crawlers emergence. Egg mortality percentages averaged 1.2, 4.27 and 8.0% with fungal concentration 2 x 10(6), 4 x 10(6) and 6 x 10(6) conidia mL(-1), respectively. Daily infection percentages were varied depend upon the conidial concentration where the highest infection rate of eggs was occurred with 6 x 10(6), followed by 4 x 10(6) conidia mL(-1). Egg hatch was very high, while the mortality among the emerged crawlers was neglectable compared with the check. Efficiency of B. bassaina on whitefly nymphs also was varied based on the insect instar and fungal concentration. Mortality percentages were obviously higher to young nymphs (1st and 2nd instars) than to older ones (3rd and 4th instars). The results indicated that nymphs were highly susceptible to fungal treatment compared with eggs. Additionally, pathogenicity and virulence of B. bassaina against B. tabaci immatures was not indicated by LC50 only, but also, by the time in days (LT50) required to achieve 50% mortality of an insect.