Entomopathogenic Fungi as a Biological Pest Management Option: A Review
Sisay Kidanu, Legese Hagos, D Airaudi, V Marchisio, O Aung, K Soytong, K Hyde, H Burges, K Jones, M Bidochka, St, R Leger, D Roberts, M Bogu, K Scheller, P Bridge, D Arora, P Bridge, M Clark, D Pearce, D Bruck, L Lewis, H Burges, G Caetano-Annoles, B Bassam, P Gressuoff, A Castle, D Speranzini, N Rghei, G Alm, D Rinker, J Bissett, A Cotes, K Dromph, K Dromph, S Vestergaard, J Eilenberg, N Schmidt, N Meyling, C Wolsted, B Federici, J Maddox, M Feng, C Chen, B Chen, P Ferron, M Goettel, J Eilenberg, T Glare, M Goettel, A Hajek, T Gottwald, W Tedders, H Gul, S Saeed, F Khan, A Hajek, A Hajek, St, R Leger, A Hajek, M Shimazu, G Hu, St, J Leger, A Hussain, S Ahmed, M Shahid, A Hussain, M Tian, Y He, J Bland, W Gu, C Ignoffo, R Anderson, G Inglis, M Goettel, T Butt, H Strasser, G Inglis, T Ivie, G Duke, M Goettel, S Jaronski, J Kabaluk, A Svircev, M Goettel, S Woo, S Keller, P Kessler, C Schweizer, I Klingen, J Eilenberg, R Meadow, L Leite, S Filho, A Roberts, D, L Leite, F Batista
Abstract
The various risk associated with the continuous use of chemical insecticides mainly development of resistance, resurgence in insects, accumulation of pesticide residues in food chain, environmental pollution, health risks have led to development of alternative strategies of pest management. The necessity for sustainable crop production through eco-friendly pest management technique is being largely felt in recent times. Thus, the exploitation of bio-control agents is considered as a suitable alternative to the use of chemical pesticides Among the various biocontrol agents, entomopathogenic fungi are being a major component of an integrated approach that can provide significant and selective insect control. A group of fungi that kill an insect by attacking and infecting its insect host is called entomopathogenic fungi Because of their wide host range they are potentially the most versatile biological control agents. These fungi comprise a diverse group of over 100 genera with approximately 750 species, reported from different insects.