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FR BEAUVERIA BASSIANA
The beauveria bassiana is a fungus discovered in 1835 by Agostino Bassi, who identifiedit as the agent of a disease affecting the silkworm.
Naturally present in soils all over the world,where it lives as a saprophyte feeding on decaying matter, it has recently found use in pest biocontrol.
Pests and phytophagous insects
Insectsare the most widespread herbivores on plants, causing significantproductive and economic lossesto all crops, worldwide. Therefore, the need to limit the damage caused by pests is of paramount importance inagriculture.
As early as two millennia ago, in China, India, Europe and North America substances of plant origin plant origin with insecticidal activity were used. It was not until the mid-1930s and early 1950s, however, that synthetic chemicalinsecticides were discovered.
Unfortunately, their prolonged use generates resistance effects in insectsas well as an undesirable impacton humans and the environment. Cases of intoxication amongagricultural workers and consumershave been recorded, as well as contamination of water, soil and food.
Useful micro-organisms for biocontrol of pests
In this scenario, the scientific and industrial communities have expended considerable energy in recent decades, with the aim of developingeffective and environmentally sustainable alternatives.Amongthe latter, the discovery and subsequent use of entomopathogenic microbial species such as Beauveria bassiana deserves special mention..
Fig. 1 Wide range of arthropods infected with Beauveria bassiana s.l.: a Whitefly nymph Bemisia tabaci biotype B (Credit: Gabriel M. Mascarin); b Banana weevil Metamasius hemipterus (Credit: Rogério B. Lopes); c Coffee berry borer Hyphotenemus hampei (Credit: Gabriel M. Mascarin); d Fruit fly Anastrepha
How does Beauveria bassiana act?
Beauveria bassiana is active against various insect species,acting on both larvae and adults. In particular, species susceptible to the fungus are beetles such as the potato doridoptera, the chestnut borer (Curculio elephas) and hazelnut borer (Curculio nucum), the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) lepidoptera such as the Carpocapsa (Cydia pneumonia), the pine processionary moth (Thaumatopea pityocampa), the corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis); grasshoppers (such as Ocneridia volxemi); homopterous rhynchopters (such as Aphids, Aleurodidae, Scale insects); heteropterous rhynchopters (such as Tingidae and Pentatomidae, Cymidae).
When the spores of B. bassiana comeinto contact with the cuticle of susceptible insects,and the environmental conditions are suitable, they germinateand produce hyphae that penetrate the body of the host,where the fungus proliferates and produces toxins withinsecticidal action,, thus causing death. Under favourable environmental conditions, the fungus emerges from the cuticle of the now mummified hostand covers the outer surface of the insect, producing millions of new infectious spores that spreadthroughout the environment.
MSBIOTECH SOLUTIONS:
- Rizotech mb: product consisting of viable spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM) of the genus Glomus spp., together with Beauveria bassiana spp. and Metarhizium spp., in a microgranular formulation. Rizotech MB ensures rapid development of the root system, improves the plant's efficiency in absorbing water and nutrients and reduces stress on the root system, especially in the presence of phytophagous insects.
- Protendo: it helps the plant to cope with and overcome stresses, both in the leaf and root system, created by the presence of phytophagous insects (mites, thrips, elaterids, dipterans, etc.). Furthermore, the presence of selected PGPRs, in synergy with the fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium spp., creates natural biostimulation and accentuated plant growth with favourable effects on production quality and quantity.
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