The purpose of this multiplex PCR assay is establishment and application for rapid and simultaneous detection of six pathogens related with insect diseases. Five pathogens were chosen based on the insect disease incidence rate in South Korea and specific primers of those pathogen were designed to detect insect diseases and test multiplex PCR for detecting Fungi; Beauveria bassiana(Bb), Metarhizium anisopliae(Ma), Bacteira; Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt), Pseudomonas aeruginosa(Pa), and Serratia marcescens(Sm). This research carried out the results detecting five kinds of insect pathogen of P. b. seulensis by multiplex PCR. Multiplex PCR is effective and save time to detect simultaneously these insect pathogens and multiple infections to prevent insect disease. In our study, using multiplex PCR, we demonstrated that P. b. seulensis was frequently infected with S. marcescens and co-infected with M. anisopliae in more than 80% of cases, indicating that such an analysis can be useful for pathogen identification, especially if different pathogens produce similar symptoms.

• Kyu-Won Kwak(Applied Entomology Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, Department of Bio-Fibers and Materials Science, Kyungpook National University)
• Myung-Sae Han(Department of Bio-Fibers and Materials Science, Kyungpook National University)
• Sung-Hee Nam(Applied Entomology Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Ji-Young Choi(Applied Entomology Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Seok-Hyun Lee(Applied Entomology Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Hong-Geun Kim(Applied Entomology Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)
• Kwan-Ho Park(Applied Entomology Division, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA)