Effect of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai and Trichoderma viride Pers. (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) on demographic parameters of Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) feeding on bell pepper plant

In this study, the indirect effects of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai and Trichoderma viride Pers. (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) on Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) via the bell pepper, Capsicum annuum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae) variety were determined using age and stage-specific two-sex life table. Cartesian product was used in the comparison tests. The study was conducted at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Plant Protection between May and July 2024. The differences in the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), and doubling time (DT) Trichoderma spp. treatments were statistically significant compared to the control. The intrinsic rate of increase for M. persicae on T. harzianum-treated plants (0.3321 d⁻¹) was significantly lower than on T. viride (0.3462 d⁻¹) and the mixture treatment (0.3583 d⁻¹). In conclusion, it was determined that both Trichoderma spp. negatively affected the fitness of M. persicae through the pepper plant, with T. harzianum being more effective than T. viride. Testing beneficial microorganisms in different plant-pest combinations in future studies will enhance the understanding of this mechanism and provide significant contributions to integrated pest management.