Entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria species universally confer tomato resistance to Botrytis cinerea after endophytic colonization
Beauveria spp. are entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) used as biological pesticides worldwide, especially the representative species B. bassiana and B. brongniartii. Currently, B. bassiana has attracted increasing attention due to its ability to colonize plants endophytically, as well as its potential to promote plant growth and enhance disease resistance after colonization. However, the other Beauveria species are leaving a gap in understanding the ecological and functional diversity. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the endophytic traits of different Beauveria species including B. bassiana (as a reference), B. brongniartii, B. aranearum, B. amorpha, and B. velata in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and evaluating their effects on tomato growth and resistance against Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold that caused critical loss of yield and quality of various crops.