scholarly journals Model Application of Entomopathogenic Fungi as Alternatives to Chemical Pesticides: Prospects, Challenges, and Insights for Next-Generation Sustainable Agriculture

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bamisope Steve Bamisile ◽  
Komivi Senyo Akutse ◽  
Junaid Ali Siddiqui ◽  
Yijuan Xu
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Fungal Spores ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Plant Host ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Chemical Pesticides

In the past few decades, the control of pests and diseases of cultivated plants using natural and biological measures has drawn increasing attention in the quest to reduce the level of dependence on chemical products for agricultural production. The use of living organisms, predators, parasitoids, and microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi, has proven to be a viable and sustainable pest management technique. Among the aforementioned, fungi, most importantly the insect-pathogenic species, have been in use for more than 150years. These include the most popular strains belonging to the genera Beauveria, Metarhizium, Isaria, Hirsutella, and Lecanicillium. Their application is usually through an inundative approach, which inherently involves exposure of the fungal spores to unfavorable humidity, temperature, and solar radiation conditions. These abiotic factors reduce the persistence and efficacy of these insect-pathogenic fungi. Despite these limitations, over 170 strains have been formulated as mycopesticides and are available for commercial use. In the last few decades, numerous studies have suggested that these species of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) offer far more benefits and have broader ecological functions than hitherto presumed. For instance, aside from their roles as insect killers, it has been well established that they also colonize various host plants and, hence, provide other benefits including plant pathogen antagonism and plant growth promotion and serve as sources of novel bioactive compounds and secondary metabolites, etc. In this light, the potential of EPF as alternatives or perhaps as supplements to chemical pesticides in plant protection is discussed in this review. The paper highlights the numerous benefits associated with endophytic fungal entomopathogen and host plant associations, the mechanisms involved in mediating plant defense against pests and pathogens, and the general limitations to the use of EPF in plant protection. A deeper understanding of these plant host-fungus-insect relationships could help unveil the hidden potentials of fungal endophytes, which would consequently increase the level of acceptance and adoption by users as an integral part of pest management programs and as a suitable alternative to chemical inputs toward sustainable crop production.

Plant health, plant protection and abiotic factors.

2021 ◽  
pp. 170-195
Author(s):  
Lynette Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Microbial Control ◽  
Irrigation Water Quality ◽  
Control Options

Abstract This chapter describes (i) major greenhouse pests (including insects, mites and nematodes) and pest control options focusing on integrated pest management (which involves the use of 'ofter' control options such as biological and microbial control combined with physical exclusion, pest trapping, resistant crops and other methods); (ii) selected diseases of hydroponic crops, including those caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses; and (iii) physiological disorders caused by non-living or non-infectious factors such as temperature, light, irrigation water quality and salinity, chemical injury (phytotoxicity), and cultural practices.

scholarly journals Endophytic Entomopathogenic Fungi: A Valuable Biological Control Tool against Plant Pests

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spiridon Mantzoukas ◽  
Panagiotis A. Eliopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Crop Protection ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Growth Promoters

Among the non-chemical insect control methods, biological control is one of the most effective human and environmentally friendly alternatives. One of the main biological control methods is the application of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF). Today, biological crop protection with EPF plays a key role in projects for the sustainable management of insect pests. EPF have several advantages over conventional insecticides, including cost-effectiveness, high yield, absence of harmful side-effects for beneficial organisms, fewer chemical residues in the environment and increased biodiversity in ecosystems. Apart from direct application as contact bioinsecticides, EPF are able to colonize plants as endophytes acting not only as pest and disease control agents but also as plant growth promoters. The present paper presents an outline of the biocontrol potential of several EPF, which could be harnessed for the development of new integrated pest Management (IPM) strategies. Emphasis is given on benefits of endophytic EPF, on issues for practical application and in fields in need of further research. Our findings are discussed in the context of highlighting the value of entomopathogenic fungal endophytes as an integral part of pest management programs for the optimization of crop production.

Plant health, plant protection and abiotic factors.

2021 ◽  
pp. 170-195
Author(s):  
Lynette Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Pest Management ◽  
Pest Control ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Microbial Control ◽  
Irrigation Water Quality ◽  
Control Options

Abstract This chapter describes (i) major greenhouse pests (including insects, mites and nematodes) and pest control options focusing on integrated pest management (which involves the use of 'ofter' control options such as biological and microbial control combined with physical exclusion, pest trapping, resistant crops and other methods); (ii) selected diseases of hydroponic crops, including those caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses; and (iii) physiological disorders caused by non-living or non-infectious factors such as temperature, light, irrigation water quality and salinity, chemical injury (phytotoxicity), and cultural practices.

scholarly journals General Limitations to Endophytic Entomopathogenic Fungi Use as Plant Growth Promoters, Pests and Pathogens Biocontrol Agents

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2119
Author(s):  
Bamisope Steve Bamisile ◽  
Junaid Ali Siddiqui ◽  
Komivi Senyo Akutse ◽  
Luis Carlos Ramos Aguila ◽  
Yijuan Xu
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Fungal Endophytes ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizers ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
Fungal Entomopathogens

The multiple roles of fungal entomopathogens in host plants’ growth promotion, pest and pathogen management have drawn huge attention for investigation. Endophytic species are known to influence various activities of their associated host plants, and the endophyte-colonized plants have been demonstrated to gain huge benefits from these symbiotic associations. The potential application of fungal endophytes as alternative to inorganic fertilizers for crop improvement has often been proposed. Similarly, various strains of insect pathogenic fungi have been formulated for use as mycopesticides and have been suggested as long-term replacement for the synthetic pesticides that are commonly in use. The numerous concerns about the negative effects of synthetic chemical pesticides have also driven attention towards developing eco-friendly pest management techniques. However, several factors have been underlined to be militating the successful adoption of entomopathogenic fungi and fungal endophytes as plant promoting, pests and diseases control bio-agents. The difficulties in isolation and characterization of novel strains, negative effects of geographical location, vegetation type and human disturbance on fungal entomopathogens, are among the numerous setbacks that have been documented. Although, the latest advances in biotechnology and microbial studies have provided means of overcoming many of these problems. For instance, studies have suggested measures for mitigating the negative effects of biotic and abiotic stressors on entomopathogenic fungi in inundative application on the field, or when applied in the form of fungal endophytes. In spite of these efforts, more studies are needed to be done to achieve the goal of improving the overall effectiveness and increase in the level of acceptance of entomopathogenic fungi and their products as an integral part of the integrated pest management programs, as well as potential adoption as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers and pesticides.

scholarly journals Solid Dispersions of Anthelmintics and Plant Protection Preparations

Solids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-75
Author(s):  
Salavat S. Khalikov
Keyword(s):  
Plant Protection ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Solid Dispersions ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Industrial Complex ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
Poorly Soluble

Because of the rapid development of nanotechnologies, materials, in particular, solid dispersions (SDs), which are actively introduced into the life of modern man, have been obtained. Special progress in this area is observed in industry and medicine. The use of SDs in agriculture is lagging far behind, despite the growing number of scientific papers on this topic. At the same time, the prospects for the introduction of SDs in the agro-industrial complex are obvious. The review presents the results of research on the development of innovative preparations based on SD to protect plants from diseases and pests of cultivated plants, as well as parasiticides to protect animal health based on modern achievements of nanotechnology. One of these technologies is the methods of mechanochemistry, which improve the properties of poorly soluble biologically active substances by their joint mechanical treatment with water-soluble polymers and auxiliary substances.

scholarly journals Directed evolution of Metarhizium fungus improves its biocontrol efficacy against Varroa mites in honey bee colonies

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer O. Han ◽  
Nicholas L. Naeger ◽  
Brandon K. Hopkins ◽  
David Sumerlin ◽  
Paul E. Stamets ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Directed Evolution ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Bee Colonies

AbstractEntomopathogenic fungi show great promise as pesticides in terms of their relatively high target specificity, low non-target toxicity, and low residual effects in agricultural fields and the environment. However, they also frequently have characteristics that limit their use, especially concerning tolerances to temperature, ultraviolet radiation, or other abiotic factors. The devastating ectoparasite of honey bees, Varroa destructor, is susceptible to entomopathogenic fungi, but the relatively warm temperatures inside honey bee hives have prevented these fungi from becoming effective control measures. Using a combination of traditional selection and directed evolution techniques developed for this system, new strains of Metarhizium brunneum were created that survived, germinated, and grew better at bee hive temperatures (35 °C). Field tests with full-sized honey bee colonies confirmed that the new strain JH1078 is more virulent against Varroa mites and controls the pest comparable to current treatments. These results indicate that entomopathogenic fungi are evolutionarily labile and capable of playing a larger role in modern pest management practices.

scholarly journals Biopesticides the sustainable way of organic and healthy tomato production

Gradus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 26-31
Author(s):  
Endre Pölös ◽  
Csaba Szabó ◽  
András Palkovics ◽  
Fernanda Delgado
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Bactericidal Effect ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Chili Pepper ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Average Yield ◽  
Tomato Production ◽  
Harmful Organisms

In our experiment, we used allelochemicals in vegetable production that can be incorporated in part or in whole into integrated pest management or in organic production. The plant extracts we used can be applied to the crop in the same way as conventional pesticides. Correlations can be found between the allelochemicals that we used in plant protection, the positive change in the average yield, the reduction of harmful organisms and the health status of the cultivated plants. Bioherbicide has been shown to be an effective weed control containing allelochemicals that inhibit photosynthesis.Extracts of extremely hot chili pepper (Capsicum annuum ssp.) varieties, aqueous solutions of essential oils of herbs and spices were used for plant protection in tomato plantations under open field conditions. The results show that chili pepper extract is a strong repellent, and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil solution has a repellent, fungicidal and bactericidal effect at the same time.

scholarly journals INFLUENCE OF CHEMICALS ON THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF AGROCENOSIS OF SPRING BARLEY WITH PERENNIAL GRASSES

2021 ◽  
pp. 55-59
Author(s):  
Mariya Fesenko ◽  
Aleksandr Shpanev
Keyword(s):  
Optical Properties ◽  
Mineral Nutrition ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Cultivated Plants ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Ndvi Index ◽  
Plant Protection System

The purpose of the research was to study the effect of mineral fertilizers and plant protection system on the vegetation index NDVI and its seasonal dynamics in agrocenoses of spring barley with overseeding of perennial grasses in the North-West of Russia. The data obtained indicate that against the background of the deficiency of the main elements of mineral nutrition in the second half of the growing season of spring barley, a significant phytomass of perennial grasses is formed in the crop, which account for 36.7%. This leads to a smaller decrease in the NDVI index (by 0.06) than in the fertilized variants (0.20). The value of NDVI index reflects not only the state of cultivated plants and weed infestation of crops, but also the level of development of crops, growing under vegetation. The influence of mineral nutrition developed during the period of maximum values of the index, which were recorded 6-8 weeks from the sowing date and 26-30 weeks from the beginning of the year. Under the influence of average doses of fertilizers, the NDVI index increased by 0.09...0.2 (on average 0.13), under the influence of high doses – by 0.13...0.26 (on average 0.18). The influence of plant protection system was expressed by a decrease in the phytomass of weeds (by 49.4...68.9%), at the same time the mass of spring barley and perennial grasses increased (by 1.7...18.5% and by 11.7...43.5% respectively). Carrying out the whole complex of protective measures led to a decrease in the NDVI index values by 0.01...0.06, depending on the phytosanitary situation in the agrocenosis. The most reliable forecast of the yield of spring barley can be implemented in the period from 5 to 7 weeks from the beginning of the emergence of barley shoots, especially against the background of the use of plant protection products that eliminate the influence of harmful organisms on the formation of the crop and the optical properties of crops

scholarly journals Discovery of Novel Entomopathogenic Fungi for Mosquito-Borne Disease Control

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasia Accoti ◽  
Cecilia Springer Engdahl ◽  
George Dimopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Suitable Alternative ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Outdoor Environments ◽  
Environmentally Safe ◽  
Emergence Of Resistance

The increased application of chemical control programs has led to the emergence and spread of insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. Novel environmentally safe control strategies are currently needed for the control of disease vectors. The use of entomopathogenic fungi could be a suitable alternative to chemical insecticides. Currently, Beauveria spp. and Metarhizium spp. are the most widely used entomopathogenic fungi for mosquito control, but increasing the arsenal with additional fungi is necessary to mitigate the emergence of resistance. Entomopathogenic fungi are distributed in a wide range of habitats. We have performed a comprehensive screen for candidate mosquitocidal fungi from diverse outdoor environments in Maryland and Puerto Rico. An initial screening of 22 fungi involving exposure of adult Anopheles gambiae to 2-weeks-old fungal cultures identified five potent pathogenic fungi, one of which is unidentified and the remaining four belonging to the three genera Galactomyces sp., Isaria sp. and Mucor sp. These fungi were then screened against Aedes aegypti, revealing Isaria sp. as a potent mosquito killer. The entomopathogenic effects were confirmed through spore-dipping assays. We also probed further into the killing mechanisms of these fungi and investigated whether the mosquitocidal activities were the result of potential toxic fungus-produced metabolites. Preliminary assays involving the exposure of mosquitoes to sterile filtered fungal liquid cultures showed that Galactomyces sp., Isaria sp. and the unidentified isolate 1 were the strongest producers of factors showing lethality against An. gambiae. We have identified five fungi that was pathogenic for An. gambiae and one for Ae. aegypti, among these fungi, four of them (two strains of Galactomyces sp., Mucor sp., and the unidentified isolate 1) have never previously been described as lethal to insects. Further characterization of these entomopathogenic fungi and their metabolites needs to be done to confirm their potential use in biologic control against mosquitoes.

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