Enhanced rates of lethality to fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda) after association of Beauveria bassania strain Ant 03 with sweet corn leaves

Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. is a valuable biological control agent for insects. B. bassiana efficacy can be influenced by plant interactions, including secondary metabolites, but the range of interactions with maize are not well understood. B. bassiana-treated sweet corn leaf tissue that had been fed on by fall armyworms, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), caused a significantly higher rate of mortality compared to leaf tissue provided to fall armyworms immediately after fungal treatment. These results suggest the ability of B. bassiana to interact with plant tissue should also be considered in selecting strains for commercial development.

Automated summary

The effectiveness of B. bassiana as a biological control agent for insects can be influenced by plant interactions, including secondary metabolites. Research shows that B. bassiana-treated sweet corn leaf tissue causes a significantly higher rate of mortality in fall armyworms compared to untreated tissue, highlighting the importance of considering the fungus's interaction with plant tissues in strain selection for commercial development.