Racer (Beauveria bassiana)

Conidial penetration:The microscopic conidial spores of theBeauveria bassianaon coming in contact with the body of the insect host start germinating and penetrate into the cuticle and grow inside the insect body thereby killing the insect within a few days. Once the fungus has killed its host, it grows back out through the softer portions of the cuticle, covering the insect with a layer of white mold (hence the name white muscadine disease). This downy mold produces millions of new infective spores that are released to the environment.

Enzyme production:Beauveria bassianasecretes enzymes which attack and dissolve the cuticle, penetrate the skin and grow into the insect body.Beauveria bassianaproduces a toxin called beauvericin that weakens the host's immune system. After the insect dies, an antibiotic -oosporein, is produced that enables the fungus to outcompete intestinal bacteria.Beauveria bassianamycelia also produce an octacyclodepsipeptide toxin called bassianolide that consists of of fourmolecules each of Dhydroxyisovaleric acid and L-N methylleucine which have insecticidal properties.

Growth:Once inside,Beauveria bassianareplicates and consumes the insects' internal organs and blood-like fluid, the hemolymph.Beauveria bassianahas the ability to live in the vascular tissue of certain corn cultivars as an endophyte.Beauveria bassianainfects the insect on contact and does not need to be consumed by the host to cause infection. A white mold emerges from the insects dead body after a few days and produces new spores.

Racereffectively controls economically important caterpillar pests for a wide range of crops

Pathogenic pest load reduction leads to improved plant health and thereby increased crop productivity

Racercan be used as an effective component in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes, thereby leading to a reduction in use of chemical pesticides and creating a safer environment

Raceris available in the following formulations:

• Wettable Powder WP (Potency: 1x10^8CFU/g)
• Soluble powder- SP (Potency: 1x10^9CFU/g)