Abstract
The growing demand for reducing chemical inputs in agriculture and increased resistance to insecticides have provided great impetus to the development of alternative forms of insect-pest control. Myco-biocontrol offers an attractive alternative to the use of chemical pesticides. Myco-biocontrol agents are naturally occurring organisms which are perceived as less damaging to the environment. Their mode of action appears little complex which makes it highly unlikely that resistance could be developed to a biopesticide. Past research has shown some promise of the use of fungi as a selective pesticide. The current paper updates us about the recent progress in the field of myco-biocontrol of insect pests and their possible mechanism of action to further enhance our understanding about the biological control of insect pests.
Highlights
Myco-biocontrol is an environmentally sound and effective means of reducing or mitigating insect-pests and its effects through the use of natural enemies
Most species are obligate pathogens, often quite specific and rarely found, for example, many species of Cordyceps. Entomopathogens such as M. anisopliae and B. bassiana are well characterized in respect to pathogenicity to several insects and have been used as myco-biocontrol agents for biological control of agriculture pests worldwide
Some entomopathogenic fungi have restricted host ranges, for example, Aschersonia aleyrodes infects only scale insects, and whiteflies, while other fungal species have a wide host range, with individual isolates being more specific to target pests. Entomopathogens such as M. anisopliae and B. bassiana are well characterized in respect to pathogenicity to several insects, and they have been used as agents for the biological control of agriculture pests worldwide
Summary
Myco-biocontrol is an environmentally sound and effective means of reducing or mitigating insect-pests and its effects through the use of natural enemies. All groups of insects may be affected and over 700 species of fungi have been recorded as pathogens Some of these fungi have restricted host ranges, for example, Aschersonia aleyrodes infects only scale insects and whiteflies, while other fungal species have a wide host range, with individual isolates being more specific to target pests. Most species are obligate pathogens, often quite specific and rarely found, for example, many species of Cordyceps Entomopathogens such as M. anisopliae and B. bassiana are well characterized in respect to pathogenicity to several insects and have been used as myco-biocontrol agents for biological control of agriculture pests worldwide. About 11 companies offer at least 16 products based on the entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana at Columbia These products are used in coffee crop and in other crops such as bean, cabbage, corn, potato, and tomato. Unlike other potential biocontrol agents, fungi do not have to be ingested to infect their hosts but invade directly through the cuticle, and so can, potentially, be used for control of all insects including sucking insects
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