Investigation of the usage of Beauveria bassiana (balsoma) isolated from dendroctonus micans (kugelann)at biolagical control of bark beetles

In this thesis, molecular characterization of Beauveria bassiana (Dm-5, ARSEF 9271), isolated from Dendroctonus micans, has been performed. The virulance of this isolate on D. micans and other bark beetles was determined and its utility in microbial has been investigated. 1 x 108 spores / ml concentration of Dm-5 caused 100% mortality on larvae and adult of D. micans within 5 and 6 days, respectively. It is observed that the isolate was effectively spread horizontaly between larvae and adult populations D. micans. At wood block (from spruce) experiments, which the isolate was spread on D. micans larvae at 100, 75, 50 and 25 percentages, using from 1 x 106 spores/ml concentration stock, gave mortalities at 100, 97.22, 70.37, and 62.03 percentages, respectively. The effects of Dm-5 on Rhizophagus grandis which is the predator of D. micans has been investigated directly or indirectly and it is determined that R. grandis is quite resistant to the isolate. 1 x 108 spores/ml concentration of the isolate showed 100% mortalities on adults of Ips sexdentatus and Ips typographus within 5 and 7 days for the insects, respectively. It is also observed that the isolate was effectively spread horizontaly on adult populations of both pests. These results show that, Dm-5 is a promising biological control agent that can be used against bark beetles.