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Beauveria felina Accelerates Growth When Competing With Other Potential Endophytes

Summary

Scientists studied how Beauveria felina, a fungus used to control crop pests, grows when living alongside other fungi naturally found in plants. They discovered that instead of being inhibited by competitors, B. felina actually grew much faster when other fungi were present. In some cases, an inhibition zone formed between B. felina and one competitor fungus, suggesting they produce chemicals that affect each other’s growth. These findings suggest B. felina could be a good biocontrol agent, but researchers need to study longer-term effects before using it widely on farms.

Background

Beauveria felina is an entomopathogenic fungus considered a promising biocontrol agent for crop pests. However, little is known about how this fungus behaves when growing alongside other endophytic fungi that naturally colonize plant tissues. Understanding these fungal interactions is critical before applying B. felina as a biocontrol agent in agricultural settings.

Objective

This study investigated the growth rate of Beauveria felina in both monoculture and in the presence of two other endophytic fungi: Gliomastix polychroma and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. The researchers tested whether the presence of competing endophytic fungi would affect B. felina’s growth rate and competitive interactions.

Results

In the presence of either competitor, B. felina grew significantly faster than in monoculture, increasing 4.3-fold with G. polychroma and doubling with R. mucilaginosa. An inhibition zone formed between B. felina and G. polychroma in 65% of dual cultures, despite G. polychroma’s faster baseline growth rate. G. polychroma showed no significant growth change in the presence of B. felina.

Conclusion

Beauveria felina demonstrates enhanced growth when competing with other endophytic fungi, supporting its potential as a biocontrol agent. The formation of inhibition zones and differential responses suggest complex fungal interactions mediated by secondary metabolites. Further research is needed to understand long-term ecological and evolutionary effects before large-scale application in crops.
  • Published in:Environmental Microbiology Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Laboratory Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39817503, DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.70067
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