جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه « قارچ بیمارگر حشرات » در نشریات گروه « گیاهپزشکی »

The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana is an important and universal biological control agent that is used to control many important pests such as cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae. Main limitation of the use of this fungus is environmental persistence to initiate epidemics in susceptible host populations. In this research, the lethal effects of two isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus on adults and second instar nymphs of cabbage aphid and the stability of the entomopathogenic fungus and its nanocomposite formulation against UV-C radiation were investigated. The LC50 value of the cabbage aphid adults was equal to 2.5×105 in WE209 isolate and 9.8×104 spores/ml in WE277 isolate. The LC50 values in the second instar nymphs were 6.4×105 and 3.2×105 spores/ml, respectively. Spore germination after 2 and 3 h exposure to ultraviolet radiation equals to zero for both times in WE209 isolate and 6 and 32%, respectively in WE277 isolate. However, these values were 12% and 37% for WE209 and 65% and 38%, respectively for WE277 base on nanocomposite. These results showed that the nanocomposite of the entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana based on montmorillonite/salep can be effectively used to increase the stability and as a result, increasing the virulence of the fungus.

The aim of this research was the laboratory production of two efficient and native strains, Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum and Beauveria bassiana Z1, using a diphasic fermentation method using solid substrates (wheat, cooked rice, barley, sorghum and wheat bran) followed by a liquid substrate (whey) at 25 ºC. The maximum number of submerged conidia was significantly produced in 50 ml whey compared to dextrose agar liquid medium. The solid substrates were then inoculated by submerged conidia obtained from whey. After 14 days, 1 gram of each solid substrate was immersed in 100 ml of Tween. The highest average number of aerial conidia of M. anisopliae in one ml was obtained in rice substrate (1.08×107±2.42×105) and wheat bran (1.06×107 ±1.86×105) without any significant difference. The survival percentage was 100% for all solid substrates except sorghum (98.90%). The highest number of conidia produced by B. bassiana was observed on the wheat bran (5.14×106 conidia/ml). However, it was much easier to handle the wheat, which produced 4.30 × 106 ± 3.71 × 104 conidia per ml, than wheat bran for mass production of B. bassiana. The lowest percentage of survival (39.20%) was observed in barley. The number of conidia in one gram of M. anisopliae obtained by sieving rice and B. bassiana obtained by sieving wheat was 2.85×1010 and 3.09×1010 conidia, respectively. The results clarified that the diphasic method using whey with the applied concentration was successful for both strains and produced an appropriate amount in the solid fermentation phase.

 Orosanga japonica (Hemiptera: Ricaniidae) is an invasive and polyphagous pest in the Palearctic region collected and reported from the northern part of Iran on citrus orchards in 2010. Nymphs and adults of the pest cause economic and critical damage to different plants by direct feeding and heavy deposits of honeydew on leaves. Despite various management practices, successful control of this pest has been difficult due to its rapid development and reproduction rate. Beauveria bassiana, an entomopathogenic fungus (EPF), has been extensively researched for its ability to manage a variety of insect pests and appears to be a potential alternative to conventional insecticides.

 In the present study, in the course of a forest survey in the distribution areas of O. japonica in Mazandaran province, larvae were infected with some native isolates of fungal mycelia were observed. After morphological and molecular identification, two fungal-infected specimens were confirmed as B. bassiana. Fungal collections were characterized by amplifying and sequencing the ITS region of rDNA using primers ITS1 and ITS4. The susceptibility of adults of O. japonica to two EPFs isolates was evaluated using the leaf dipping method and the direct spraying method under laboratory conditions. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (SAS, 2002) with insect mortality as the response variable. Means were separated at alpha=0.01 using Duncan´s test. The LC50 and LC90 values of EPFs and the mean lethal times of LT50 were estimated by Probit analysis using SPSS Statistics 17.0

Two different fungal isolates presented white to cream colonies with irregular edges and powdery appearance, reproductive structures, and conidia with typical morphology, size, and color of B. bassiana species. The mean lethal concentration values (LC50) of isolate 1 and isolate 2 to were 4.00 × 106 and 3.3 × 106 conidia ml-1 (leaf dipping method) and 5.4 × 106 and 4.7× 106 conidia ml-1 (direct spraying method) on the adults of O. japonica respectively in the laboratory tests after 96 h post treatments, at 25°C and 60% relative humidity. The similarities of the ITS sequences of both two EPFs were 99-100% to those of B. bassiana in the GenBank database.

The natural pathogens of pests have long been known to play a significant role in the population dynamics of many important forest pests and provide assistance to manage pests and develop tools for management. Fungal diversity in the moist and temperate Hyrcanian forests can vary widely due to diverse ecological conditions. Generally, these findings could help establish an efficient management strategy for O. japonica as an invasive pest and the development of mycoinsecticide from an indigenous fungus. Future research could investigate the effect of other native EPF isolates and developing techniques in fungal formulation against O. japonica.

The greatest damage to hazelnut is due to its pests. Filbert aphid Myzocallis coryli is one of the important pests of this tree. In order to reduce the population of hazelnut aphids, which causes severe damage to this plant, the use of biological control method based on insect pathogenic fungi in laboratory and field conditions is purposed. In this study, the effects of four isolates DEMI001, IRAN 715C, M14, V245 of M. anisopliae were used and evaluated on the second instar nymphs in laboratory (25±1 °C, 65±5% relative humidity and photoperiod 16: 8 hours dark: light) and field conditions (30±3 °C, 55±6% relative humidity and photoperiod 14:10 dark hours: Ligh). In order to evaluate the effects of four isolates from the lethal concentration for 50% of the population (LC50) probit analyses program of SPSS-21 software was used. The LC50 value achieved from the effect of, IRAN 715C, DEMI001, M14 and V245 isolates on the second instar nymphs of the aphid in laboratory and field conditions were 5. 13 ×107, 3.00 ×106, 3 . 09 ×107, 1.11 ×106 (spores/ml) and 5. 03 ×107, 1.81 ×106, 0.43 ×106, 1.5×106 (spores/ml), respectively. The results of this study showed that the isolate M14 is more effective on the second instar nymphs of this aphid. Also, for controlling the aphids’ nymphs in field conditions, a higher concentration of fungal suspension is required compared to experimental conditions. In evaluate interaction between two isolates additive or synergistic effect was not observed.

In order to use entomopathogenic fungi as a commercial biological agent, their mass production is required. In the present study, the fermentation of one isolate of Beauveria bassiana was investigated using liquid culture media including TKI Broth culture medium with 5% of sugar beet molasses (TKI), liquid medium containing sugar beet molasses, yeast extract and multivitamin (MYM) and potato extract (P), potato extract plus 8% whey (PCh) and potato extract plus 5% molasses (PM). Moreover, the viability of the spores produced at two temperatures (room and refrigerator) was evaluated for nine months. Finally, the pathogenicity of spores obtained from different media was investigated on greenhouse whitefly nymphs under the laboratory and greenhouse conditions. In TKI Medium, the submerged conidia were produced showing the highest amount of conidia production (3.87×108 conidia/ml). The highest amount of blastospores was obtained in PCh medium with 2.37×108 blastospores/ml. In laboratory bioassay, blastospores of PCh medium showed the highest mortality rate (86.40%) on greenhouse whitefly nymphs and the lowest mortality rate were observed in submerged conidia from TKI medium with 74.03% mortality. In greenhouse bioassay, the mortality rate was between 43% and 50%. After nine months of storage at refrigerator, submerged conidia from TKI Broth and blastospores from P medium caused 25–30% mortality in whitefly nymphs in laboratory condition. No mortality was observed in greenhouse condition. According to the results, blastospores obtained from potato extract are introduced as a suitable liquid medium for mass production of this fungal isolate.

Cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.), is one of the most important and harmful pests of crucifers, which is active in many parts of Iran and causes quantitative and qualitative damage in the cultivation of these plants during the winter. Some natural enemies such as the parasitoid wasp Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) are active on this pest. The indiscriminate use of insecticides for controlling pests caused evolution of pest resistance, environmental pollution and negative effects on natural enemies and beneficial insects. In recent years, environmentally compatible factors have received more attention due to less side effects in pest control. This study was carried out to determine the effects of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.), and nanosilica separately and in combination on survival of the cabbage aphid and its parasitoid treated by different concentrations of fungus (103, 104, 105, 106 and 107spore/ml) and nanosilica (125, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm).

Cabbages (Brassica olearaceae var. capitata) were grown from seed in plastic flower pots. Aphids were collected from Brassicaceae plants in fields of Nazlo Campus of Urmia University near Urmia city. This colony was used as a source for all aphids used in all laboratory experiments. Also, a colony of D. rapae was reared on B. brassicae under greenhouse conditions. Wasps were fed a 10% honey solution and used to parasitize aphids, or for use in experiments, 24 hours later.Fungi was cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) in petri dishes (6 cm in diameter) and incubated for two weeks to induce sporulation. Spores were harvested from the surface of 14-day old culture and transferred to a test tube containing sterilized distilled water with 0.05% Tween®-80. The conidial concentration of final suspension was determined by direct count using a neubauer hemocytometer and serial dilutions were made to obtain different conidial concentrations. Sio2 nanoparticles of pashgamannano® company was used in bioassay tests. Bioassay test was carried out on aphid and its parasitoid. Aphids were treated by conidial concentrations using dipping method. Control adults were treated with distilled water containing 0.05% Tween®-80. In order to evaluate the effect of nanosilica on aphids, leaf discs were dipped in to different concentrations of nanosilica and after drying, adult cabbage aphids were transferred on treated leaf discs in Petri dishes. The mortality was counted 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment. Experiments were carried out at 25±2 Co temperature, 65±5% RH and a photoperiod of 16: 8 h. (L: D) under laboratory conditions. LC25, LC50 and LT50 values of fungi and nanosilica were estimated. Also, combination effects of fungi and nanosilica were evaluated in laboratory. A preliminary test was evaluated to determine side effects of different concentrations of nanosilica on viability and germination of fungi spore. Germination rate for fungi was calculated after 24 hours. The LC25, LC50 and LT50 values (with 95% confidence limits) were calculated using the Probit analysis method. Bioassay data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) after checking for normality and means were compared by Tukey’s test.

The LC50 values obtained from the analysis of probit as a result of the effect of different concentrations of B. bassiana 7 days after treatment and nanosilica 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment on cabbage aphid were 2.2×105 spore/ml and 4356.14, 1164.42, 487.19 ppm, respectively. Furthermore the LC50 values of B. bassiana 4 days after treatment and nanosilica 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment on D. rapae were 1.2×106 spore/ml and 3639.79, 619.51, 289.77 ppm, respectively. Results showed that the adults of the cabbage aphid were completely sensitive to the fungal isolate. The shortest time needed for the mortality of 50% of the population of cabbage aphid was 5.02 days at 107 conidia/ml concentration. The mortality rate of nanosilica at highest concentration, 72 hours after treatment was 90 and 96.6% respectively for cabbage aphid and parasitoid wasp. Also, combination of these factors against adults of cabbage aphid had significant difference with control.

According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that B. bassiana and nanosilica are effective on cabbage aphid and can be used as effective factors in the integrated pest management program of this pest.

An isolate of entomopathogenic fungus was isolated from the soil samples by using the Galleria bait method. Species identification was carried out using morphology and phylogenetic analysis of ITS-rDNA region and ß-tubulin gene sequences by Maximum parsimony (MP) method. Based on the both morphological and molecular characterization, the isolate KJ3 was identified as Cordyceps farinosa. The isolates showed an ellipsoidal conidial shape with overall dimensions of 3.83 × 1.98 µm (length ×width). The phialide of the isolate was characterized by a wide globose basal portion and overall dimensions of 4.98 × 2.21 µm. The PCR-amplified ITS and ß-tubulin regions were 615and 355 bp, respectively. In all constructed phylogenetic trees, C. farinosa isolate KJ3 grouped together with C. farinosa CBS 541.81 as a monophyletic group. Based on the ITS-rDNA sequence, in reconstructed phylogenetic tree, a group including C. albocitrina and C. coccidioperitheciata appeared as sister group of C. farinose. Cordyceps confrogasa was the genealogically closest species to I. farinosa based on the ß-Tubulin sequence. With the aim of comparing the efficiencies of ITS-rDNA and ß-Tubulin sequences for Cordyceps spp. genealogic studies, MP phylogenetic trees with the similar sets of species were reconstructed based on the both genomic regions in combination and alone and then compared in terms of consistency index, retention index and topology. The results showed that phylogenetic analysis based on the ß-Tubulin sequence is more efficient way for genealogical studies in Cordyceps spp..

Mulberry whitefly Aleuroclava jasmini sensu lato Takahashi 1932 as a sap feeder insect is one of the most serious pest in mulberry trees in Tehran province, Iran since 2016. The population of the species has increased due to lack of natural enemies in the new area. In this paper, virulence of four Iranian isolates of B. bassiana on second nymphal stage of A. jasmini sensu lato in five concentrations through spraying under laboratory conditions were investigated. The number of dead nymphs was recorded daily to 10 days. Mean mortality percentages were analyzed by AVONA under 95% of confidence level in SPSS. LC50 and LT50 were calculated by SAS. The final results from Probit test showed that the lowest LC50 produced by to two isolates, PTCC5197 and IRAN1359 as 1.3 × 105 conidia ml–1 indicated higher pathogenicity against A. jasmini sensu lato. The highest LC50 belonged to IRAN1228 with the value of 9.9 × 105 conidia ml–1 . LT50 results showed that by increasing the isolates concentration, mean lethal time decreases. It can be concluded that the studied isolates had high level of pathogenicity on A. jasmini sensu lato nymphs and it can be applied through IPM programs, indeed their environmentally safety would be so valuable.

The success of pest control using insect pathogenic fungi such as Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae depends on practical and economical methods for their mass production. In this study, the effects of light periods (including 12-12, 18-6 and 18-6 light and dark), incubation times (48, 72- and 96-hours) and incubator rotations (100, 150 and 200 rpm) were investigated based on blastospore concentrations of the two fungi in 4 replications. The results showed that different treatments including light periods, incubation times and incubator rotations had significant difference on B. bassiana and M. anisopliae fungi in terms of spores concentrations, germination percentage, wet and dry weights production in complete liquid phase for blastospore at 1% probability level. The highest concentration of blastospore, germination percentage, wet weight and dry weight of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae were 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness, rotation rate of incubator of 150 rpm and incubation period of 75 hours. Also, the results of this study showed that B. bassiana and M. anisopliae can be replicated with good performance of sugarcane byproducts and maintain the germination capacity of blastospore. The highest concentration of blastospore, germination percentage, fresh weight and dry weight of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae were incubated at 150 rpm. According to the results of this study, two species of pathogenic fungi can be produced by using a combination of environmental conditions and incubator device settings with good production performance and appropriate economic efficiency.

The initial step to mass production and commercialization of native entomopathogenic fungal isolates includes collection as well as evaluation of their pathogenesis on the pest. This research aims to investigate the pathogenicity of 36 local fungal isolates collected from the Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Tehran, Iran against greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum. Due to the variation of the collected isolates volume, a preliminary screening test carried out on the fourth instars of a model insect Galleria mellonella. Based on the obtained results, the Beauveria bassiana A1–1 isolate showed the highest mortality with an average of 75%, followed by IRAN1787C, IRAN1751C, IRAN1395C, IRAN428C and IRAN441C with mean mortality rates of 57.50, 55, 52.50, 50 and 45%, respectively. Subsequently, the isolates were selected for evaluation of vegetative growth, sporulation and bioassay tests on greenhouse whitefly. In the bioassay test, five concentrations of the isolates (104, 105, 106, 107 and 108 conidia/ml) were tested on the third–instar of whitefly nymphs, and then the parameters LC50 and LT50 of the isolates were calculated. The highest vegetative growth rate belonged to IRAN428C, IRAN1395C, A1–1, IRAN1787C, IRAN441C and IRAN1751C isolates while the highest sporulation rate belonged to IRAN1787C, A1–1, IRAN428C, IRAN1395C, IRAN441C and IRAN1751C, respectively. The results showed that the A1–1 isolate indicated the lowest LC50 and LT50 values among all used concentrations. Moreover, its vegetative growth and sporulation ranked third and second among all the collected isolates, respectively. Therefore, the A1–1 isolate is being introduced as the most effective biocontrol agent to control greenhouse whitefly.

 

Knowledge on the characteristics of insects immune system can play an important role in the adoption of biological control methods such as the use of entomopathogenic fungi. Insects with a strong immune system exhibit the development of infection.

In this study, the immune responses of fourth instars larva of the potato tuber moth were investigated against two isolates of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana includingFashand and 47 (isolated from the soil of the Fashand region and isolated from the Abr jungle of Shahrood, respectively). Concentration of 105 spores / ml of each isolate was injected to the larvae. Control larvae were treated with distilled water. After 3, 6 and 10 hours, the abundance of hemocytes was evaluated in treated larvae.

The results showed that after 3 hours the total number of hemocytes, plasmatocytes and granulocytes increased significantly compared to control. However, the abundance of these hemocytes decreased gradually after 10 hours post injection. 6 hours after injection, prohemocytes also showed significant decrease in numbers. The amount of enzyme activity of phenoloxidase was measured. The maximum activity of Phenoloxidase enzyme was in the isolates of Fashand and 47, respectively, in 3 hours after spores injection.

Recognition of hemocytes and study of the interaction of pathogenic agents with immune system of Potato tuber moth has been conducted for the first time and could be used as a basis for future investigation in the context of the feasibility of the biological control of this dangerous pest of potato with Beauveria bassiana

In the present study, some isolates of Beauveria bassiana were isolated from different soil samples and their virulence was investigated against Sunn pest Eurygaster integriceps (Hem., Scutelleridae), flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Hym., Pyralidae), and king meal worm, Zophobas morio (Col., Tenebrionidae). Twenty three isolates were isolated using Galleria-baiting method from collected soil samples in different regions; Karaj, Urmia, Mako and Dezful and were identified. The insect hosts were infected using dipping method. The results showed that the fifth nymphal instars of Sunn pest and fourth larval instars of flour moth were susceptible to all isolates of B. bassiana while last larval instars of the beetle were resistant and no mortality was observed. The most virulent isolates were TV and TZ with approximately 90% mortality on E .kuehniella and E. integriceps. The isolates were categorized broadly into three classes: low virulent (0-33% mortality), medium virulent (34-67% mortality) and high virulent (68-100% mortality). On PDA medium, two distinct germination types of conidia were revealed including conidia with single and dual germ tubes. There were significant differences among isolates in their percentages of germination types but there was no significant correlation between virulence and conidial germination types.

This study was conducted to evaluate the compatibility of some plant essential oils in combination with entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana against Callosobruchus maculatus. Lethal effects of three essential oils including Petroselinum sativum, Satureja sahendica and Heracleum persicum against the adults of C. maculatus were studied. The biological activity of two fungal isolates, IS-1 and IS-75, as alone and in combination with the essential oils for insect pest control was evaluated. Results showed that S. sahendica essential oil was the most toxic agent on adults than other oils, and IS-75 isolate showed more virulence against the pest compared to IS-1 when applied alone. Results of percent inhibition of sporulation and mycelial growth of the fungus showed P. sativum essential oil with 100 percent inhibition completely inhibited fungal growth and sporulation and S. sahendica essential oil with 24 percent inhibition had more compatibility compared to two other essential oils. Combined application of three essential oils and IS-75 isolate of the fungus in lethal and sublethal concentrations showed that H. persicum essential oil has the least LT50 value in combination with the fungus.Essential oil-pathogen interactions of sublethal concentrations of plant essential oils and IS-75 fungal isolate revealed that the synergistic effects on percent adults’ mortality only belongs to the combination of LC25 concentrations of each of the agents, and other sublethal combinations had additive and antagonistic effects.

Thrips are important greenhouse pest that cause transmitting viruses in addition to direct damage. Functional response is an important factor in selection of natural enemies for the biological control of pests. The general predator Amblyseius swirskii and entomopathogenic fungus are the most important natural enemies of western flower thrips (WFT) Frankliniella occidentalis in most area. The functional response of the predatory mite, A. swirskii was examined on either untreated or Beauveria bassiana (isolate JEF-007) treated larvae of the WFT after three time intervals: 0, 24 and 36-h treatments. The functional response were studied in the laboratory condition (25±1 ºC, 70±10 % RH and photoperiod of 16:8 h (L: D)), and densities of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 20 larvae per Petri dish, over 24h. The data were good fit to Rogers-II functional response model for all of untreated and B. bassiana-treated insects. Comparisons of the results of functional response parameters in different treatments indicated that the handling time on western flower trips 24 hours after infection had significantly different with the control but there were no significantly different among treatments control, 0 hour after infection and 36 hour after infection of the fungus.

IntroductionThe predator Amblyseius swirskii and entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana are important biocontrol agents of Trialeurodes vaporariorum. Determination of the host preference of predators in the fields when receiving signals related to either untreated and Beauveria bassiana-treated pest is important.
Materials and MethodsIn this research, the prey preference of adult female (2 days old) of A. swirskii was determined on untreated and Beauveria bassiana-treated of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in various treatments base on Manly Index. These different treatments consisted of two time intervals; 24 and 48 h post-inoculation of greenhouse whiteflies with 1×105 conidia /ml of B. bassiana with 13 replicates. 24-h starved predators were added to the leaf discs singly then the number of consumed untreated and B. bassiana-treated T. vaporariorum in each Petri dish was assessed after 24 h.
Results and DiscussionThe results revealed that mean number of consumed B. bassiana-treated T. vaporariorum in two time intervals; 24 and 48 h. after inoculation were 4/15±0/19 and 2.23±0/12, respectively. This investigation showed a significant preference of A. swirskii towards untreated T. vaporariorum in 24 (P

The cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.), is a major pest of cruciferous crops all over the world that causes a considerable damage on different products by direct sap feeding and transmission of pathogenic viruses. Use of chemical pesticides is the most common control method of this pest but the adverse effects of these pesticides have shifted considerations to other environmental-friendly agents. In this study, the virulence of two isolates (DEMI001 and V245) of the fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metch.) Sorokin was investigated against the adults of cabbage aphid in laboratory conditions. Adult aphids were treated with (103-107 conidia/ml) concentrations of fungus. Moreover, life table parameters of aphid were evaluated when treated with sub-lethal (LC30) concentration of the effective isolate, DEMI001. Results showed that the adults of cabbage aphid were completely sensitive to the isolates of fungus. LC50 values was scored 1.5×105 and 2.3×106 conidia/ml respectively for DEMI001 and V245 isolates. The shortest time needed for the mortality of 50% of the population was 6.67 days belonging to DEMI001 isolate at 107 conidia/ml concentration. Moreover, results showed that a sub-lethal (LC30) concentration of DEMI001 isolate, had significant effect on fertility of treated aphids. The values of rm and λ parameters were 0.28 female/female/day and 1.32 female/day, respectively. Our results showed that M. anisopliae can be used as an effective biocontrol agent in cabbage aphid control.

The predatory bug, Andrallus spinidens Fabricius (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a potential biological control agent of lepidopterous larvae in the rice fields of Iran. In the present research, the sublethal effects of the entopmopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana were studied on the cellular energy allocation (CEA) of this predator. Conidia suspensions were prepared in five concentrations of 104, 105, 106,107 and 108 conidia ml-1.Fifth-instar nymphs of A. spinidens were immersed in fungal suspensions for 10 seconds. After bioassay and data analysis, the effect of LC30 of B. bassiana were investigated at 25±2 °C, 60%±10% relative humidity and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L: D). The amounts of available energy (including carbohydrate, glycogen, lipid and protein), energy consumption and cellular energy allocation were estimated. No significant difference was observed in the amounts of available and consumption energies in the treated insects (68.53±0.028 and 6.10±0.01 j/insect, respectively) compared with control (79.61±0.03 and 6.63±0.01 j/insect, respectively). Estimation of cellular energy allocation showed that treated bugs had a lower amount of energy (11.22±0.75 j/insect) compared with control (12±0.37 j/insect), but difference did not cause statistically significant. According to the present study, the sublethal concentrationof B. bassiana (3×105 conidia ml-1) was not caused any significant effect on the biochemical parameters of A. spinidens.

The entomopathogenic fungus، Verticillium epiphytum was isolated from the infected specimens of Thrips tabaci collected in Mashhad in April 2011. The fungus has been previously reported from rusts and sugar beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii. This is the first record of V. epiphytum on T. tabaci in the world.

The effect of the fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae, sub-lethal dose of imidacloprid, the aphid, Myzus persicae and the three canola cultivars under microcosm conditions inside plastic cages in greenhouse (27 ± 3°C, RH 90 ± 5 %) indicated that field and semi-field concentrations of the fungus significantly reduced the population of Green Peach Aphid (GPA) as well as in combination with LC10 of imidacloprid. Comparison of mean percent of the GPA mortality, 7 and 23 days after treatment, indicated the distribution of pathogen inside the aphid population. Comparing different treatments determined that not only imidacloprid had no negative impact on pathogenicity of fungal pathogens but also increased the efficiency of the fungus.The highest and lowest mean value of plant dry weight was concerned to the Licord in treatment containing field concentration of the fungus plus imidacloprid (4.57 ± 0.48 gr) and the RGS003 cultivar in treatment including sublethal dose of imidacloprid (1.29±0.27 gr), respectively and there was significant difference between them. Comparison of different cultivars showed the highest mean number of the GPA colonisation on the Zarfam (2040.50±126.92 aphids) and the lowest one (1583.17±213.17 aphids) on the RGS003 cultivar, respectively but no significant difference was observed between Zarfam and Licord cultivars. The results indicated that using semi-field concentration of M. anisopliae added with LC10 of imidacloprid in compared with the other treatments to control the GPA could be the best alternative. In addition to cause remarkable mean mortality percent after a week, the less fungal concentration was applied.