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Evaluating Beauveria bassiana Strains for Insect Pest Control and Endophytic Colonization in Wheat

Summary

Scientists tested three strains of a beneficial fungus called Beauveria bassiana to control crop-damaging insects and promote wheat growth. The best-performing strain, CBM1, successfully killed multiple types of pest insects and colonized wheat plants when applied to the soil. Wheat plants colonized with this fungus grew taller with longer roots and showed significantly better protection against fall armyworms, suggesting this fungus could be a valuable tool for sustainable, pesticide-free crop protection.

Background

Entomopathogenic fungi, particularly Beauveria bassiana, are important biological control agents against agricultural pests. These fungi can colonize plant tissues as endophytes, enhancing both plant growth and disease resistance while providing sustainable pest management alternatives to chemical pesticides.

Objective

To evaluate three B. bassiana strains (CBM1, CBM2, and CBM3) for their pathogenicity against lepidopteran pest larvae and their ability to colonize wheat plants, and to assess the impacts of fungal colonization on wheat growth and insect pest mortality.

Results

B. bassiana CBM1 exhibited the highest pathogenicity with the lowest LT50 and LC50 values across all tested insects. Soil drenching achieved significantly higher colonization rates (81.25%) compared to seed immersion (42.92%). CBM1 colonization increased wheat plant height at 30 DAS and root length at 15 DAS, and colonized wheat leaves increased fall armyworm mortality to 52.78% compared to 2.78% in controls.

Conclusion

B. bassiana CBM1 demonstrates significant potential as a biocontrol agent for integrated pest management in wheat, with the ability to control multiple lepidopteran pests while simultaneously promoting plant growth through endophytic colonization, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides.
  • Published in:Insects,
  • Study Type:Experimental/Laboratory Study,
  • Source: 10.3390/insects16030287; PMID: 40266821
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