Two Centuries of Knowledge on Beauveria bassiana

Beauveria bassiana is a naturally occurring pathogen of numerous insects, causing a disease known as white muscardine. This cosmopolitan insect pathogen has been historically used to control insect pests such as caterpillars. During infection, B. bassiana produces a variety of toxins, such as beauvericin. Recently, this entomopathogenic fungus has also been revealed to occur as a natural endophyte within several plant species. Since its discovery almost 200 years ago, extensive knowledge of this entomopathogen fungus species has been gained. In this chapter, essential historical and modern findings will be presented.