Plant pathogen defensive molecules can interfere with the efficacy of microbial insect biological control agents. A series of compounds, most of which are food additives or supplements, were evaluated using maize caterpillar pests and commercial formulations two different strains of the insect entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana. Some compounds were found to significantly increase the percent mortality over time, while others significantly increased the amount of leaf colonization by B. bassiana. Incorporation of effective compounds into insect microbial biocontrol formulations should increase the efficacy of relevant microbial biocontrol agents, thereby increasing the degree of adoption of environmentally safer microbial control agents and providing a safer product for producers and consumers.
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