Beauveria bassiana

Beauveria bassiana is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and acts as a parasite on various arthropod species; it thus belongs to the entomopathogenic fungi. It is used as a biological insecticide to control a number of pests, including termites, thrips, whiteflies, aphids and various beetles. Its use in the control of bedbugs and malaria-transmitting mosquitoes is under investigation.

The insect disease caused by the fungus Beauveria bassiana is a muscardine which has been called white muscardine disease. When the microscopic spores of the fungus come into contact with the body of an insect host, they germinate, penetrate the cuticle, and grow inside, killing the insect within a matter of days. Afterwards, a white mold emerges from the cadaver and produces new spores. A typical isolate of B. bassiana can attack a broad range of insects; various isolates differ in their host range. The factors responsible for host susceptibility are not known.”

Beauveria bassiana is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and acts as a parasite on various arthropod species, causing white muscardine disease; it thus belongs to the entomopathogenic fungi. It is used as a biological insecticide to control a number of pests, including termites, thrips, whiteflies, aphids and various beetles. Its use in the control of bedbugs and malaria-transmitting mosquitoes is under investigation.

The insect disease caused by the fungus Beauveria bassiana is a muscardine which has been called white muscardine disease. When the microscopic spores of the fungus come into contact with the body of an insect host, they germinate, penetrate the cuticle, and grow inside, killing the insect within a matter of days. Afterwards, a white mold emerges from the cadaver and produces new spores. A typical isolate of B. bassiana can attack a broad range of insects; various isolates differ in their host range. The factors responsible for host susceptibility are not known.

For growing: Just put the medium, you want to put it on into a jar. Then sterilize it at 121°C for arround 1 hour (depends how much you use). Afterwards just inject the Liquid Culture in to it.

How to use Beauveria bassiana:

Using a Sprayer:
Once you have weighed your dose (2 to 4g/L):
Transfer into a hermetically sealed container
Add cold or room-temperature water (2 L of water for a 100 L tank)
Mix well for 30 to 45 seconds
Pour your premix into the spray tank
Rinse the premix container with water three times and add the rinse water to the spray tank
Prepare a fresh batch for each application
> apply where you see infections

Apply Beauveria bassiana in the late afternoon, in the evening or on a rainy day
Beauveria bassiana spores are very sensitive to UV rays. For this reason, we advise you to apply this product in the late afternoon or evening.
Make sure the atmospheric humidity is favourable for application
Beauveria bassiana is a fungus, it prefers a humid environment. We recommend maintaining the relative humidity at 60% or higher during foliar applications.
With the right level of humidity, once the infected insect is dead, the fungus’ mycelium will emerge from the pest’s different sutures. The white filaments look a bit like cotton fluff. If a healthy insect comes into contact with the mycelium, it will also get infected and die.
Note that poor conditions (e.g. not humid enough, too hot, UV exposure) can stop the mycelium from developing outside the contaminated insect.
Make sure the ambient temperature is favourable
High temperatures can reduce the viability of the spores. Optimal application temperatures are between 18 and 29 ºC. Spores develop more slowly below 15 ºC and become inactive above 33 ºC.

1. Dissolve the malt extract and agar in distilled water.
2.  Sterilize the solution by autoclaving at 121°C for 15-20 minutes.
3. Pour the sterilized media into petri dishes or other containers under sterile conditions.
4. The Yeast is optional, but you can add it to any recipe for nutritions, same for Peptone.

Beauveria bassiana thrives on a variety of substrates, commonly used for both laboratory cultivation and large-scale production. The ideal substrates include grains such as rice, millet, and barley, which provide the necessary nutrients for fungal growth. Additionally, agricultural by-products like cornmeal and wheat bran are also effective. These substrates are often sterilized to eliminate competing microorganisms before inoculation with B. bassiana spores. The choice of substrate impacts the yield and quality of the spores, with grains being favored for their nutrient density and ease of handling. The substrate must be kept moist but not waterlogged to support optimal fungal colonization and sporulation.

To enhance the growth and sporulation of Beauveria bassiana, various additives can be incorporated into the substrate. Nutrient supplements such as yeast extract, peptone, and sugar can significantly boost fungal growth by providing additional sources of nitrogen and carbon. Trace elements like zinc, iron, and magnesium are also beneficial, supporting enzymatic activities and overall metabolic processes of the fungus. Additionally, adjusting the pH of the substrate to around 6.0-7.0 can create a more favorable environment for B. bassiana. These additives and adjustments help in maximizing the biological efficiency and spore production of the fungus.

The biological efficiency (BE) of Beauveria bassiana refers to the ratio of the biomass or spores produced to the amount of substrate used. High biological efficiency is crucial for the commercial viability of B. bassiana as a biocontrol agent. On average, the BE of B. bassiana can range from 20% to 50%, depending on the substrate and cultivation conditions. Factors influencing BE include the type of substrate, the presence of nutrient additives, incubation temperature, humidity, and aeration. Optimizing these parameters can significantly enhance the BE, resulting in higher yields of viable spores for pest control applications.

Specific insects are often saved and others are again preferred hosts.

On dead insects such as whiteflies, thrips, spider mites, Colorado potato beetle, corn borer, bark beetle, decaying redwoods and/or arthropod parasites, spring to late fall, very rare.

Identifying Beauveria bassiana involves observing several key morphological characteristics. The mycelium starts as white and gradually turns yellowish-white, then yellowish, and finally to a greenish-yellow color as sporulation progresses. The fungus does not have a cap, stipe, or veil, distinguishing it from many mushroom-forming fungi. The spores, or conidia, are hyaline (translucent), one-celled, and typically oval to slightly cylindrical. Under a microscope, the conidiophores, which bear the conidia, appear as branching structures. One potential danger of confusion is with other similar-looking entomopathogenic fungi, such as Metarhizium spp. However, B. bassiana can be confirmed through its unique combination of morphological traits and molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing.

• Growth Pattern: The fungus primarily grows on insects, forming a white to yellowish mat of mycelium over the host.
• Microscopic Features: Under the microscope, the conidiophores (spore-bearing structures) of B. bassiana can be seen as branching structures that produce chains of conidia (spores).
• Substrate: Commonly infects insects, which serve as the primary substrate for growth and spore production.

You should not eat this fungus. Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathogenic fungus used primarily for biological pest control. It is not intended for human consumption and is not recognized as edible or gourmet.

Due to the fact that Beauveria bassiana is not consumed by humans, detailed nutritional content for a 100-gram portion is not typically documented. However, if studied, the nutritional profile would likely be similar to other fungi, potentially including basic nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids in varying amounts.

Beauveria bassiana contains several bioactive compounds that contribute to its efficacy as a biological control agent:

Beauvericin: A cyclic hexadepsipeptide with insecticidal, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

Bassianin: Another bioactive compound with similar insecticidal properties.

Beauverolides: Secondary metabolites with potential cytotoxic activities.

Oosporein: An anthraquinone pigment with antibiotic properties.

These compounds make Beauveria bassiana an effective pathogen against insects, causing them to die after infection. Despite its effectiveness in pest control, these bioactive substances also highlight why it is unsuitable for human consumption, as they could be harmful if ingested.