MOLECULAR STUDIES OF SOME ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI

Abstract

In the present study, five fungal isolates namely

Metarhizium anisopliae, Metarhizium jlavovridae, . Beauveria '\

'- -

bassiana, Beauveria brongniartii and paecilomyces farinosus,

were used. These isolates were provided by Insect pathogen unit at Plant Protection Research Institute. These isolates were used as a biological control agents for the Egyptian cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis, which represents the most severe destructive cotton pest in Egypt and many other coun ries. The main points which were discussed in this study could be summarized in the following topics:- 1- The fungi under study were grown on three different media where Manisopliae, M.jlavovvidae and Pfarinosus exhibit good growth on Dox medium, while B.brongniartii exhibit good growth on potato - dextrose agar medium. Whereas B.bassiana exhibit good growth on complete agar medium. The

medium constituents were prepared and adjusted at PH 5.5- 6.5. After sterilization, Petri- dishes were inoculated with the fungal strains and incubated for two weeks at 25°C and 50-60% RH. At the end of incubation period the conidia were harvested from the surface of the cultures by scratching using sterile solution of• 0.01% tween-80. The resulting suspension was counted according

to hemocytometer counts technique. Five concentration were used for each isolates. The fungal metabolites were prepared by making broth medium. These media were inoculated with