Use of entomopathogenic fungi in biological control: a world view

Abstract

The entomopathogenic fungi inflict widespread destruction to arthropods inhabiting plants, soil, and aquatic environments. Today, about 25 species are recognized worldwide as important biotic factors in the regulation of agriculturally and medically important insect pests of economic significance. Scientists have scrutinized these fungi in biological control as biopesticides, as exotic microbes introduced from one place to another, or as manipulative agents in IPM systems. This paper addresses current basic and applied research on entomopathogenic fungi as biological control agents.