Occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in muck-glial soils of the Liwiec river valley

Abstract

For the preservation of biological diversity of soil microorganisms, including entomopathogenic fungi which are natural enemies of pests, areas that are subject to anthropogenic transformation as little as possible are of great importance. River valleys may be such areas. The aim of the study was to identification of types of entomopathogenic fungi, as well as to investigate the intensity of their occurrence in the upper genetic levels of meadow muck-glial soils located in the Liwiec river valley. The material for the research was soil samples collected in October 2018 and May 2019, in the upper reaches of the Liwiec river. Insecticidal fungi were isolated from individual genetic levels of the soils under study using the selective substrate isolation method. In the course of the research, insecticidal fungi of the genus were isolated: Beauveria spp., Metarhizium spp., Isaria spp. and Lecanicillium spp., with only Beauveria spp. and Lecanicillium spp. being found in the autumn. The greatest number of infection units was formed by the fungus Beauveria spp. and the greatest intensity of its occurrence was found in the turf level of the soils studied.