Insecticidal activity

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

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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.

Genome annotation of Aspergillus melleus strain CBS 546.65

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Scientists have created a detailed functional map of the Aspergillus melleus fungal genome, identifying over 12,000 genes and 102 biosynthetic gene clusters. This fungus is valuable because it produces compounds with insecticidal, nematicidal, and antibiotic properties, as well as proteases used in health supplements. The annotation provides a roadmap for understanding how this fungus makes these useful compounds and could help optimize its industrial applications.

Chemical clues to infection: A pilot study on the differential secondary metabolite production during the life cycle of selected Cordyceps species

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This study examined two types of parasitic fungi (Cordyceps javanica and Cordyceps blackwelliae) that infect insects, comparing how they kill their hosts and what chemical compounds they produce during infection. Researchers found that each species uses different toxic molecules to infect insects, with C. javanica being more deadly and producing diverse compounds called beauveriolides. By analyzing infected insect corpses, scientists provided the first direct evidence that these toxic compounds are actually made during real infections, not just in laboratory cultures.

Isolation and Characterization of a Native Metarhizium rileyi Strain Mrpgbm2408 from Paralipsa gularis in Maize: First Data on Efficacy and Enzymatic Host Response Dynamics

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Scientists in China discovered a naturally occurring fungus (Metarhizium rileyi) that effectively kills a destructive maize pest called Paralipsa gularis. When the fungus infects the pest larvae, it disrupts their natural defense enzymes and causes high mortality rates. This fungus could replace harmful chemical pesticides and provide a sustainable way to protect crops while protecting the environment.

Insecticidal Action of Local Isolates of Entomopathogenic Fungi Against Bactrocera oleae Pupae

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Olive farmers in Mediterranean countries struggle with the olive fruit fly, which damages olives and reduces oil production. Researchers tested special fungi that naturally infect and kill insects to see if they could control this pest at the soil stage when fly pupae are developing underground. Several fungal species, especially Beauveria bassiana, were effective at reducing survival of emerged adult flies by about 40% compared to untreated flies. This offers a promising natural alternative to chemical pesticides that can harm olive oil quality and lose effectiveness over time.

Saponins, the Unexplored Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defense: Opportunities in Integrated Pest Management

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Plants naturally produce compounds called saponins that protect them from insects, fungi, bacteria, parasitic worms, and viruses. This review explains how saponins work as natural pest managers and discusses how plants rich in saponins, such as licorice and soapbark trees, could be used to develop environmentally friendly crop protection products instead of synthetic pesticides.

Development of Biphasic Culture System for an Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana PfBb Strain and Its Virulence on a Defoliating Moth Phauda flammans (Walker)

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Researchers developed an efficient two-stage fermentation process to mass-produce Beauveria bassiana PfBb, a fungus that kills defoliating moths damaging Ficus trees. The first stage grows the fungus in liquid to produce active spores, which are then transferred to solid substrates to produce hardy, long-lasting conidia. The optimized process produces high quantities of effective fungal spores that can be stored at refrigerator temperature for over a year while maintaining their pest-killing ability.

Development of Mycoinsecticides: Advances in Formulation, Regulatory Challenges and Market Trends for Entomopathogenic Fungi

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This review explores fungal-based insecticides as environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical pest control. These products use naturally occurring fungi that infect and kill insects through direct contact, making them effective against many crop pests. The review covers different formulation types, product development challenges, and regulatory approval processes in major markets worldwide.

therapeutic action: Insecticidal activity