Leslie Lewis, leslewis@iastate.edu, USDA-ARS Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Laboratory, Genetics Laboratory, c/o Insectary Building, Ames, IA
Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillimen, a ubiquitous entomopathogenic fungus, has been used experimentally for several years to manage the European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner). During routine experimentation to test the efficacy of B. bassiana, researchers recognized that this insect fungal pathogen formed an endophyte with corn. Extensive research has been conducted to elucidate this phenomenon. These works will be reviewed and the potential of endophytism as a management tool for the European corn and for other pests will be presented.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Crambidae
Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer)