Research Project: Discovery and Production of Beneficial Microbes for Control of Agricultural Pests through Integration into Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems

Location: Crop Bioprotection Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Microbial genomics and its application to biocontrol research; current and future perspectives - (Abstract Only)

Antifungal iturinic lipopeptide diversity and evolution in the Bacillus subitlis group - (Abstract Only)

Maize resistance to plant pathogens can interfere with efficacy of the insect biological control agent Beauveria bassiana - (Abstract Only)

Taxonomic and genomic diversity of a worldwide collection of entomopathogenic fungi - (Abstract Only)

Appropriate selection of organic hybrid sweet corn varieties can positively influence both the effectiveness of the insect biological control agent Beauveria bassiana and fungal disease resistance - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dowd, P.F., Johnson, E.T. 2024. Appropriate selection of organic hybrid sweet corn varieties can positively influence both the effectiveness of the insect biological control agent Beauveria bassiana and fungal disease resistance. Organic Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-024-00453-w.

Additives that enhance kill rates of maize pest insects by commercial formulations of B. bassiana. - (Abstract Only)

Increased phenoloxidase activity constitutes the main defense strategy of Trichoplusia ni larvae against fungal entomopathogenic infections - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Duffield, K.R., Rosales, A., Muturi, E.J., Behle, R.W., Ramirez, J.L. 2023. Increased phenoloxidase activity constitutes the main defense strategy of Trichoplusia ni larvae against fungal entomopathogenic infections. Insects. 14(8), article 667. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14080667.

The involvement of a PIG3 homolog quinone oxidoreductase gene in maize resistance to insects and fungi demonstrated through transgenic expression in maize callus - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Prospects for biocontrol of tar spot of corn: candidate biocontrol organisms isolated from tar spot stromata - (Abstract Only)
Ramirez, J.L., Dowd, P.F., Johnson, E.T., Behle, R.W., Muturi, E.J. 2023. Prospects for biocontrol of tar spot of corn: candidate biocontrol organisms isolated from tar spot stromata. Meeting Abstract. [abstract].

Impacts of Repeated Liquid Culture on Entomopathogenic Fungi - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Potential role of a maize metallothionein gene in pest resistance - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dowd, P.F., Naumann, T.A., Johnson, E.T. 2023. Potential role of a maize metallothionein gene in pest resistance. Plant Gene. 34. Article 100409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plgene.2023.100409.

Induction of multiple immune signaling pathways in Gryllodes sigillatus crickets during overt viral infections - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Duffield, K.R., Foquet, B., Stasko, J.A., Hunt, J., Sadd, B.M., Sakaluk, S.K., Ramirez, J.L. 2022. Induction of multiple immune signaling pathways in Gryllodes sigillatus crickets during overt viral infections. Viruses. 14(12). Article 2712. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14122712.

What needs fixing: Identifying new pest resistance genes in maize and determining functionality of coded proteins - (Abstract Only)
Dowd, P.F., Johnson, E.T., Naumann, T.A. 2023. What needs fixing: Identifying new pest resistance genes in maize and determining functionality of coded proteins. American Chemical Society National Meeting. [abstract].

Formulations of entomopathogens as bioinsecticides - (Book / Chapter)
Behle, R.W., Bithisel, T. 2022. Formulations of entomopathogens as bioinsecticides. In: Mass Production of Beneficial Organisms: Invertebrates and Entomopathogens. 2nd edition. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. pp. 407-429.

A maize lectin can function as a defensive protein against insect and fungal pests - (Abstract Only)
Dowd, P.F., Naumann, T.A., Johnson, E.T. 2022. A maize lectin can function as a defensive protein against insect and fungal pests [abstract]. American Chemical Society. Paper No. 3737991.

Crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) upregulate multiple immune pathways in response to an active viral infection - (Abstract Only)

Sweet corn variety can influence the efficacy of Beauveria bassiana on European corn borers and fall armyworms - (Abstract Only)
Dowd, P.F., Johnson, E.T. 2022. Sweet corn variety can influence the efficacy of Beauveria bassiana on European corn borers and fall armyworms [abstract]. Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting.

A maize gene coding for a chimeric superlectin reduces growth of maize fungal pathogens and insect pests when expressed transgenically in maize callus - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Dowd, P.F., Naumann, T.A., Johnson, E.T. 2022. A maize gene coding for a chimeric superlectin reduces growth of maize fungal pathogens and insect pests when expressed transgenically in maize callus. Plant Gene. 30. Article 100359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plgene.2022.100359.

Comparing production and efficacy of Cordyceps javanica with Cordyceps fumosorosea - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Behle, R.W., Wu, S., Toews, M.D., Duffield, K.R., Shapiro-Ilan, D.I. 2022. Comparing production and efficacy of Cordyceps javanica with Cordyceps fumosorosea. Journal of Economic Entomology. 115(2):455-461. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toac002.

Active and covert infections of cricket iridovirus and Acheta domesticus densovirus in reared Gryllodes sigillatus crickets - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Duffield, K.R., Hunt, J., Sadd, B.M., Sakaluk, S.K., Oppert, B.S., Rosario-Cora, K., Behle, R.W., Ramirez, J.L. 2021. Active and covert infections of cricket iridovirus and Acheta domesticus densovirus in reared Gryllodes sigillatus crickets. Frontiers in Microbiology. 12. Article 780796. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.780796.

Differential impact of maize inbred feeding on efficacy of Beauveria bassiana against European corn borers (Ostrinia nubilalis) and fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda) - (Abstract Only)
Dowd, P.F., Johnson, E.T. 2021. Differential impact of maize inbred feeding on efficacy of Beauveria bassiana against European corn borers (Ostrinia nubilalis) and fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda) [abstract]. Entomological Society of America.

Enzymatic and antipest activity of maizewin, a defensive protein from maize - (Abstract Only)
Dowd, P.F., Naumann, T.A., Price, N.P., Johnson, E.T. 2021. Enzymatic and antipest activity of maizewin, a defensive protein from maize [abstract]. American Chemical Society.

First record of a new microsporidium pathogenic to Gonipterus platensis in Brazil - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Jordan, C., de Carvalho, V., Mascarin, G., Dos Santos Oliveira, L., Dunlap, C.A., Wilcken, C. 2021. First record of a new microsporidium pathogenic to Gonipterus platensis in Brazil. Scientific Reports. 11. Article 10971. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90041-9.

Editorial: Entomopathogens for sustainable food production - (Review Article)
Dara, S.K., Behle, R.W., Arthurs, S.P. 2021. Editorial: Entomopathogens for sustainable food production. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 5. Article 672404. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.672404.

Pest potential for genes targeted toward plant pathogen control to interfere with natural and applied insect pathogens affecting insect pests - (Abstract Only)
Dowd, P.F., Vega, F.E., Wright, D.A. 2021. Pest potential for genes targeted toward plant pathogen control to interfere with natural and applied insect pathogens affecting insect pests [abstract]. NIFA BRAG.

Transcriptional responses of Beauveria bassiana blastospores cultured under varying glucose concentrations - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mascarin, G.M., Iwanicki, N.S., Ramirez, J.L., Delalibera, Jr, I., Dunlap, C.A. 2021. Transcriptional responses of Beauveria bassiana blastospores cultured under varying glucose concentrations. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 11. Article 644372. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.644372.