Effect of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana on the Development of Faba Bean (Vicia faba) Diseases in the Field Conditions

Several ascomycetous entomopathogenic fungi, including species in the genera Beauveria , are plant symbionts/endophytes and are termed as endophytic insect-pathogenic fungi. It was shown that the fungus Beauveria bassiana (BBK-1 strain) successfully colonized Vicia faba bean plants in laboratory and field conditions of Western Siberia. The B. bassiana reisolate passed through the plants had significantly higher antagonistic activity against phytopathogens in comparison with the primary stem of entomopahogenic fungi. Pre-sowing faba bean seeds treatment reduced the level of infection of the seed material with phytopathogens, significantly decrease the development and prevalence of root rot disease. A decrease in the disease development index (chocolate spot, powdery mildew, fusariosis and other spots diseases) was found as a result of the use of B. bassiana . The effectiveness and prolonged action of B. bassiana on plants opens up new opportunities both in the creation of biological products and in molecular-genetic research and selection of certain pairs of plants and fungi based on the principle of the greatest synergy.