Scientific Paper

Co-vectoring of Beauveria bassiana and Clonostachys rosea by bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) for control of insect pests and suppression of grey mould in greenhouse tomato and sweet pepper
Co-vectoring of Beauveria bassiana and Clonostachys rosea by bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) for control of insect pests and suppression of grey mould in greenhouse tomato and sweet pepper
May 27, 2008

Greenhouse cage trials were conducted to assess the effectiveness of bumble bee pollinators for the covectoring of two fungi (Beauveria bassiana [Balsamo] Vuillemin [BotaniGard 22WP formulation] and Clonostachys rosea Lnk: Fr. [Endofine]), in greenhouse tomato and sweet pepper for control of insect pests (greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood; and tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris [Palisot de Beauvois]), and grey mould (Botrytis cinerea Pers: Fr.)…The incidence of grey mould in sweet pepper and tomatoes treated with the heat-inactivated inoculum or no inoculum (control) was approximately 80% on the flowers and leaves. Thus, the combined inoculum of B. bassiana and C. rosea can potentially control T. vaporariorum and L. lineolaris, and suppress grey mould in greenhouse tomatoes and sweet peppers, when vectored simultaneously by bumble bees.