In this study, the endophytic capacity of B. bassiana was determined for two barley (Hordeum vulgare) varieties, Josefa and Esmeralda, inoculated with a seedling immersion at three different concentrations (1 × 106, 1 × 107 and 1 × 108 conidia/mL). Seedling length and chlorophyll content were found to be not affected when inoculated with the entomopathogenic fungus, in both barley varieties. However, the colonisation percentage was found to be significantly lower with the inoculum concentration 1 × 106 conidia/mL for both barley varieties (P < 0.05) when compared to the other concentrations. Furthermore, a principal component analysis indicated that 96.23% of the variability in the data could be explained with two components. This analysis showed that the seedling length and chlorophyll content were positively correlated in both barley varieties for the 1 × 107 conidia/mL concentration. Likewise, a positive correlation was observed for colonisation percentage and treatment with 1 × 108 conidia/mL in the Josefa variety only. This is the first study in which the endophytic capacity of B. bassiana was evaluated in two different barley varieties, with the Josefa variety found to be the most susceptible.
Keywords: Barley; Beauveria bassiana; Colonisation; Endophytic capacity; Principal component analysis.