Figure 4. Re-isolation of Metarhizium robertsii or M. acridum after their endophytic colonization of cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus).

Control plants with no fungus inoculation (A, D, G, and J); M. robertsii growing from surface sterilized roots (B) and leaves (E) of cowpeas; M. robertsii growing from surface sterilized roots (H) and leaves (K) of cucumber. M. acridum growing from surface sterilized roots (C) and leaves (F) of cowpeas; and M. acridum growing from surface sterilized roots (I) and leaves (L) of cucumber. Note that the characteristic brownish-green conidia of M. robertsii were obscured by a layer of white mycelium, whereas the dark green conidia of M. acridum were more visible due to very little mycelial overlay.