Determination of the effectiveness of entomopathogenic fungi against gray mold disease (botrytis cinerea) on tomato

One of the main fungal diseases that seriously affects yield and quality in tomato cultivation is gray mold disease caused by Botrytis cinerea. Due to the tendency of Botrytis cinerea to fungicide resistance and high genetic variation, chemical control against this disease has become difficult in recent years. For these reasons and also to protect human health and minimize environmental damage, alternative methods are being investigated. In this study, it was aimed to determine the activities of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (BY2 and BIM), Beauveria varroa, Metarhizium robertsii, Purpureocillium lilacinum, Fusarium subglutinans (FS12 and FS8) species against B. cinerea. The antifungal effects of different concentrations of culture filtrates obtained from each entomopathogenic fungus were evaluated in vitro by three different methods. From the results obtained from in vitro experiments, the effectiveness of the culture filtrates of the most effective fungi against B. cinerea was investigated by applying root, stem and leaf applications to tomato plants. According to the results obtained, it was determined that the culture filtrates of the most effective B. bassiana BIM and F. subglutinans FS12 isolates in in vitro studies inhibited B. cinerea mycelial development at 50% concentration. B. bassiana BIM and F. subglutinans FS12 culture filtrates were tested at 50% and above concentrations on tomato plants and it was determined that it suppressed B. cinerea disease agent and the lowest B. cinerea disease severity was determined in leaf and stem (injection) applications of entomopathogenic culture filtrates. The results were promising that entomopathogenic fungi can be used against B. cinerea.