Cellular signaling in cross protection: An alternative to improve mycopesticides

• New technologies based on gene manipulation are substitutes to chemical pesticides.
• Restrictions in the use of GMO limit the application of those alternatives.
• Cellular signaling control can improve quality of conidia from mycopesticides.
• Cross protection to environmental stresses relays on cell signaling pathways.
• Moderate oxidative stress in some entomopathogenic fungi improves conidial quality.

The use of chemical pesticides have damaged the environment and human health over the past 50 years. Biotechnological alternatives include genetically modified plants such as Bt cultures and recently those based on RNAi and CRISPR-Cas9, although resistance may appear in some insects, and also there are restrictions due to legal regulations. Microbial biopesticides based on conidia from entomopathogenic fungi are an excellent choice to face the present situation. In addition to high conidial yields, the quality of conidia should be assured in production processes. Sublethal stress during cultures may lead to cross protection, by which conidia acquire tolerance to other sort of stresses like those found in open fields. These stress response mechanisms involve G proteins and MAPK pathways. These current challenges are discussed here.