b'PARTNER CONTENTFrom Chicken Barn to Bumper Crop:The (Almost Unbelievable) Story of One Very, Very Useful FungiW hen my uncle, Jim Arends, first examined Beauveria bassiana in a chicken barn, he would never have guessed it would lead to a product that strengthens plants from the inside out, increasing yields and bolstering them against environmental stress. As a professor at North Caro-lina State University in the Department of Entomol-ogy and Veterinary School, he was fascinated by the potential of this fungus. But it was a farmers bold experiment that revealed the scope of its effects. Initially, my uncle was looking for a solution to By: Ben Arends, JABBdarkling beetle infestations and observed a white of the Carolinas VP ofbloom infecting the beetles. Investigation showed Production and Mar- that this was Beauveria bassiana, a fungus that in-keting fects both larval and adult stages of the beetles. A team of researchers worked to figure out how to harness B. bassiana and bring it to a commercialmore efficient nutrient transfer and communica-scale, and my uncle founded JABB of the Carolinastion within the plant.in 1994 to bring this unique pest control solution toJABB reformulated the product for crop applica-poultry barns. It took time, effort, and financial risktion, and this was commercially available in 2016. to launch the business, but it paid off.We offer organic and conventional formulations for This business grew and thrived, until the birdseedbox, foliar, drip irrigation, furrow, and com-flu changed the poultry landscape. Buildings weremercial seed treatment applications.redesigned to prevent outbreaks, and ultimatelyThe results have been impressive. Looking at changed the pest complex, decreasing the marketyield alone, trials show an average increase of seven for B. bassiana in poultry barns.bushels for corn and three bushels for soybeans - However, at the same time, research was emerg- often more pronounced in areas of high stress.ing showing the beneficial effects of B. bassianaOur product is unique. Most B. bassiana is when used as a seed treatment, which led one of ourisolated from insects, but we isolate our B. bassiana shareholders to try it on his wheat seed.from plants, resulting in increased colonization of He was growing organic wheat and was strug- plants and improved responses over those using gling with Hessian fly. He used the liquid formula- insect isolates. tion for his treatment, which made a mess, but heCorn and soybeans are our largest markets, but managed to get it into the ground. His wheat was ex- there is a broad range of crops it benefits. Specialty ceptional all year - his yield was higher, and he hadcrops, fruit orchards, nut trees, vegetablesthere none of the mycotoxins that everyone else foughthasnt been anything it hasnt helped.with. He wasnt certain that it was due to the treat- My uncle asked me to join the company three ment, but he tried it again the next year and had theyears ago when it was clear JABB of the Carolinas same results. This led us to where we are now. was on a growth curve big enough to require help. Research determined that B. bassiana doesntMy family farmed in Iowa, and I have agriculture just populate the area around the plant like mostscience education, so I am excited to be involved in biological treatments. It incorporates into theoffering a product that can so vastly improve the plant as an endophyte, living between the plantbottom line for my fellow farmers. cells. Plants with endophytic relationships haveFind out more about how Beauveria bassiana improved photosynthetic efficiency, enhancedproducts strengthen plants from the inside out. resistance to stresses, and increased growth due tohttps://jabbofthecarolinas.com/DECEMBER 2024SEEDWORLD.COM /45'