REVIEW ON AGRICULTURAL INSECT PESTS CONTROL USING ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGUS BEAUVERIA BASSIANA

Beauveria bassiana Balsamo (Vuillemin) plays an important role in controlling insect pests both in the greenhouse and open field production. Selection of strains that are host specific is key to improve infectivity and to protect the non-target insects. Recent advances in production, formulation, and application of B. bassiana has resulted in the development of improved myco-insecticide products, and registration of several new products. In addition, many countries have developed commercial products that are available in the market for use. Commercial production for this fungus as a biopesticide has been successful but environmental factors such as high temperatures and low humidity among other factors have limited its success in field conditions. The development of oil formulation and UV protectants on commercial products are currently in use and have overcome this challenge. Greenhouse production has had some cases of success but cases of low persistence for long periods has been a limitation. There is need to improve its application such the use of endophytes since this fungus is endophytic in most agricultural crops. For future research, improvements are needed in the research methods, mass production, formulation and the application techniques. This paper reviews studies done using B. bassiana as biopesticide and endophyte on several crops for insect pest control.