The potential of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana to manage insect pests and diseases

Abstract

The saprophytic white muscardine fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin is a potential biocontrol agent against varied insect pests, is a commercially available mycopesticide in many countries, and is extensively used for insect pest management. It produces several metabolites, such as antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, and insecticidal compounds that protect against insect pests and plant pathogens, with dual-purpose crop protection, a new concept in plant disease management. This insect pathogen is also beneficial to plant endophytes that are antagonistic to plant diseases and promote rhizosphere colonizers and plant growth, inducing systemic resistance. The induced systemic responses of fungal endophytes enhance genes that are expressed in pathogenesis and increase the production of pathogenesis-related proteins and defense enzymes. The fungus infects the insects by degrading mechanically and chemically their cuticles. It promotes plant growth, provides systemic protection against pests and pathogens in sustainable agricultural crop production, and reduces the usage of chemical pesticides.