B. Ramanujam, S. Renuka, B. Poornesha and A.N. Shylesha

ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources H.A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Bengaluru – 560 024, India.

Received on 03 May 2016 and accepted on 20 July 2016

ABSTRACT

The six promising isolates of B. bassiana (NBAII-Bb-5a, 7, 14, 19, 23 and 45) were examined for Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy studies (ESEM) and two B. bassiana isolates (NBAII Bb-5a and Bb-45) were used for Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) studies for their endophytic colonization in maize leaf tissues. All the six isolates showed the conidial germination and penetration after 5 days of treatment in maize leaf tissues through Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) studies. Conidia of Bb-5a and Bb-45 isolates were observed inside the parenchymatic cells through Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) studies. This indicates the endophytic establishment of B. bassiana in maize leaf tissues.

Keywords

Beauveria bassiana, Endophyte, Maize, Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope, Transmission Electron Microscope.