Biochemistry, Pathogenesis, and Parasitism of Beauveria

Beauveria bassiana is an ecological biopesticide derived from fungi that has generated significant interest because of its capacity to produce a diverse array of enzymes and secondary metabolites, by causing white muscardine. The use of fungi as biopesticides does not lead to the accumulation of resistance in target pests and is not toxic to human or environmental health. The initial penetration of the fungus into the host cuticle is a complex process involving the action of two main mechanisms: physical, due to the pressure of the hyphae breaking the membranous areas, and biochemical, as a result of the secretion of some enzymes, such as chitinases and proteases, which have the advantage of degrading the cuticle of the insects and facilitating penetration. Subsequently, fungal growth occurs in the insect cadaver, followed by the production of new conidia. Among the characteristics of B. bassiana, it has been found that it can allow the establishment of protective mechanisms in plants against mycoparasitism, generate antagonism, and produce antibiotic compounds. It also exhibits multiple mechanisms of antagonistic interactions between phytopathogenic fungi. For this reason, entomopathogenic fungi play an important role in crop protection as well as being environmentally compatible, providing alternatives for disease control, promoting growth, and increasing the yield of cultivated plants.