Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a migratory polyphagous pest that causes major damage to economically important cultivated grasses, such as corn. Native to the neotropics in America but recently reported as an invasive pest in Africa and Asia, FAW imposes a serious threat to food security and sustainable crop productivity due to lack of effective management. In this study, the introduction of entomopathogenic fungi as endophytes was explored as an alternative more sustainable management strategy against FAW in corn. The study determined (1) the effect of isolates and inoculation methods on the ability of entomopathogenic fungi to colonize corn plants, and (2) the effect of colonized plants on S. frugiperda survival, development, reproduction, and food preference. Although all tested isolates (twelve of Beauveria bassiana and one each of Metarhizium anisopliae and Metarhizium robertsii) colonized inoculated plants, there was a highly significant interaction between isolates and inoculation methods. Highest plant colonization was obtained by Beauveria bassiana isolate (LPSc 1098) using foliar spray. Endophytic B. bassiana caused significant reductions in larval and pupal survival, length of different developmental stages, total S. frugiperda lifespan, and leaf area consumed by third instar larvae. Plant colonization also significantly reduced female longevity, fecundity, and fertility. This is the first report for the negative effects of endophytic B. bassiana on S. frugiperda growth, reproduction, and food preference. Our results highlight the promising potential of incorporating entomopathogenic fungi as endophytes in integrated pest management practices to protect corn against FAW if their efficacy is also confirmed under field conditions.

秋夜蛾（Spodoptera frugiperda）是一种游走性多食性害虫，会对经济上重要的栽培草（例如玉米）造成重大破坏。一汽原产于美国新热带，但最近据报道是非洲和亚洲的一种入侵性有害生物，由于缺乏有效的管理，对粮食安全和可持续的作物生产力构成了严重威胁。在这项研究中，作为内生菌的昆虫病原真菌的引入被探索为一种针对玉米一汽的另一种更可持续的管理策略。该研究确定了（1）分离株和接种方法对昆虫病原真菌对玉米植物定殖的能力的影响，以及（2）定植植物对S. frugiperda的存活，发育，繁殖和食物偏好的影响。尽管所有测试的菌株（球孢白僵菌十二个，以及金属假单胞菌和罗伯氏金属假单胞菌各一个）都定植在接种的植物上，但在分离菌和接种方法之间存在高度显着的相互作用。球孢白僵菌分离株（LPSc 1098）使用叶面喷洒获得最高的植物定植。内生球孢杆菌引起幼虫和p的存活，不同发育阶段的长度，沙门氏菌总数的明显减少寿命，以及三龄幼虫消耗的叶面积。植物定植还显着降低了女性的寿命，繁殖力和繁殖力。这是首次报道内生球孢杆菌对弗氏链球菌生长，繁殖和食物偏好的负面影响。我们的研究结果突出了将病原性真菌作为内生菌纳入病虫害综合防治实践中的潜在潜力，如果在田间条件下也证实了其功效，可以保护玉米免受一汽侵害。