Effect of Heavy Metal Ions on the Growth, Sporulation and Pathogenicty of Isaria Javanica = (Paecilomyces Javanicus)

Abstract: The effect of heavy metal ions (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn) on the growth and sporulation of the entomopathogen fungi Isaria javanica (Synon. Paecilomyces javanicus) was conducted. The metal ions were added into culture media in three concentrations: A- Concentration corresponding to the mean content of that metal in soils of Duhok, Northern of Iraq, B-Concentration 10 – times higher and C- 100 times higher than the mean ones. Investigated metal ions, added to the media at low concentration, didn't affect the growth of entomogenous fungus which was unable to grow on the media containing Cu, Cd, and Zn at the highest ( C) concentration. Moreover, Cu and Zn were irestricted fungal growth even at 10 times higher. The ions of Pb, and Fe were also considerably reduced fungal colonies at the highest concentration C. I. Javanica was virulent when resulted a high mortality of two aphid species, but the fungal spores were unable to detect in the media with the presence of Cd, Zn, and Pb at the highest C concentrations, whereas, Fe inhibited fungal sporulation at ( A, B, and C ) concentrations. Thus, strongl