Posted: October 19, 2020
Common soil fungus could be an ally in the fight against corn pests.
Photo by Mary Barbercheck
Corn producers could enlist a common soil fungus as a powerful partner to suppress pests and promote plant growth, according to researchers in the college who suggest that promoting the fungus could be an especially valuable strategy for organic growers struggling with insect control.
These conclusions, published in Biological Control, were reached after a study of fungus-insect-plant interactions in greenhouse and laboratory settings. A team led by Mary Barbercheck, professor of entomology, inoculated corn seed with spores of Metarhizium robertsii fungus and subsequently evaluated corn plants for fungal colonization of leaves and roots. They also measured plant height, chlorophyll content, and aboveground biomass, as well as relative growth rate of black cutworm.
--Jeff Mulhollem
Latest Issue
Features
So Long Spotted Lanternfly
Researchers devise creative ways to defeat a destructive pest.
Past Time For Change
In the wake of a series of racial hate crimes in the United States, Penn State and the College of Agricultural Sciences are elevating their commitment to providing an environment where everyone feels welcome and supported.
Course Change
Instructors in the college respond to the pandemic with new and improved ways of engaging with students.
