Cultural and morphological characterizations of Beauveria bassiana

Abstract

An investigation entitled Cultural and Morphological Characterizations of Beauveria bassiana was carried out during 2018-2019. Effects of nutrition, pH, temperature and humidity were assessed on the basis of radial growth. The mummified bodies of lepidopteran pest larvae with symptoms of fungal infection were collected from field conditions from different places. Detailed morphological studies of effective isolate (Bb3) show that the fungus grew well on SDA (sabouraud dextrose agar). The mycelium on this medium, appeared white, dense and powdery. The colonies appeared raised in the center and developed radial furrows. The culture was turned yellowish white and powder type. Spore structures wasglobose to sub-globose. Two different semi synthetic media namely sabouraud dextrose agar and potato dextrose agar were evaluated for better growth of B. bassianaand it was observed that SDA medium (41.50 mm) support the growth of isolate. Significantly higher radial growth was however, seen in media on the basis of these results, pH value 6.0, temperature of 25 °C and 95 per cent relative humidty was considered as optimum for growth and sporulation of B. bassiana.