Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)

Beauveria bassiana, an entomogenous fungus used for the biological control of pest insects, comprises a globally-distributed species complex of regionally endemic lineages. In order to study the population genetics of B. bassiana, detail species boundaries, conduct ecological studies of natural populations and track fates of experimentally-released strains, sensitive genetic markers are required. We describe the isolation and characterization of eight microsatellite loci that amplify successfully from strains representative of the phylogenetic diversity in the B. bassiana complex.