Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the species composition and the intensity of entomopathogenic fungi occurrence in the soil from mid-field woodlots and adjacent small farmlands. The study material consisted of soil samples taken from a mid-field woodlot and an adjacent small-scale arable field in three different localities in the vicinity of Siedlce. Entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from soil using two methods: the insect bait method and the selective medium. The comparative study showed that the soil from mid-field woodlots was characterized by a richer species composition of entomopathogenic fungi than of adjacent arable fields. A total of six fungal species representing the anamorphs of Hypocreales (Ascomycota) were isolated from the soil collected from mid-field woodlots: <em>B. bassiana, B. brongniartii, M. anisopliae, M. flavoviride, I. farinosa</em> and <em>I. fumosorosea</em>. The presence of only three species was reported in the farmland soil: <em>B. bassiana, M. anisopliae</em> and <em>I. fumosorosea</em>. This fact confirms the important role of semi-natural habitats as a source of biodiversity of entomopathogenic fungi in agricultural landscape. It was found that entomopathogenic fungi together formed more colony-forming units in the soil from arable fields than that of neighbouring mid-field woodlots. <em>B. bassiana</em> was the species of fungus which infected more bait insect larvae and formed significantly more colony-forming units (CFU) in the soil from mid-field woodlots than that of farmland in the localities studied, whereas the trend was the opposite in the case of <em>I. fumosorosea</em> and <em>M. anisopliae</em>. Given the presence of entomopathogenic fungi in the farmland soil in the three test places together, it was found that <em>I. fumosorosea</em> was dominant in the soil from the two arable fields, where this fungus infected more <em>G. mellenella</em> larvae and formed significantly more CFUs than the other species of fungi. <em>M. anisopliae</em> was the second most frequently isolated farmland species.
Highlights
Fungi are the largest group of microorganisms colonizing the soil environment after bacteria
The occurrence, development and pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi in soil are conditioned by a number of biotic and abiotic factors in the environment, as well as the agricultural and non-agricultural human activity
A total of six fungal species representing the anamorphs of Hypocreales (Ascomycota) were isolated from the soil collected from mid-field woodlots using G. mellonella larvae: Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.)
Summary
Fungi are the largest group of microorganisms colonizing the soil environment after bacteria. Farmland are surrounded by semi-natural habitats such as mid-field woodlots and field margins which are specific refugia for flora and fauna not present in arable fields (Marshall, Moonen 2002; Meyling 2005) These habitats are the ideal place for many wintering arthropod species whose rich communities in turn determine a large variety and ease of propagation of pathogens, including entomopathogenic fungi. Avifaunistic and entomological characteristics of such structural elements of agricultural landscapes are relatively well developed, data relating to entomopathogens that are contained therein are quite sporadic (Bałazy, Cysewski 2003; Bałazy 2007) It is known, that the species composition of entomopathogenic fungi in semi-natural habitat soils, i.e. excluded from agrotechnical pressure, is different from that observed in soils intensively used for agriculture (Steenberg 1995; Bidochka et al 1998; Klingen et al 2002; Meiling, Eilenberg 2006; Tkaczuk 2008)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
