A common soil fungus can help corn growers control insect pests naturally

Image credit: Bigstock

Image credit: Bigstock

Problem

How can we reduce the risk for growers transitioning to organic production?

  • The United States is the largest producer and exporter of corn in the world, but nearly half of its organic corn supply is imported.
  • Risks posed in managing insects and weeds without conventional pesticides often deter producers from transitioning their fields to organic corn production.

Findings

An interdisciplinary team inoculated seeds of corn with spores of the soil fungus Metarhizium robertsii to study how natural processes already occurring in the plant's roots and soil impact pest pressures and plant growth.

  • Colonized plants grew taller and produced more aboveground biomass compared to control plants.
  • The beneficial fungus also boosted the expression of plant defense genes.

Impact

This research demonstrates that corn growers, especially organic corn growers, can benefit from managing their fi elds to promote this naturally occurring fungus. Their continued research could help to develop new seed treatments that would provide for organic farmers:

  • Safe, cost-effective, and ecofriendly methods for leveraging a plant's natural defenses to cope with stresses
  • Practices that can foster symbiotic relationships with microbes already present in the soil

Related Research Areas:  Environmental Resilience, Advanced Agricultural and Food Systems

Research Credit

Team

Participating Departments

Competitive Funding

  • USDA NIFA (Organic Transitions Program), Organic Farming Research Foundation

Federal and State Appropriations

  • USDA NIFA Hatch Projects PEN04606 and PEN04676, Accession #1009990 and #1017795

Emerging Discoveries

Published Research

Endophytic Metarhizium robertsii promotes maize growth, suppresses insect growth, and alters plant defense gene expression

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Office for Research and Graduate Education

Address

217 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802-2600