Our analysis of the genetic variability and phylogenetic relationships among the isolates of mitosporic entomopathogenic fungi Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown & Smith (10 isolates), Paecilomyces farinosus (Holm ex S.F. Gray) Brown & Smith (3 isolates), Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson (1 isolate), and Verticillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Viegas (6 isolates) was based on the use of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Neighbor-joining analysis characterized P. fumosoroseus and V. lecanii as monophyletic taxa. The analysis also supported monophyly of the genus Paecilomyces. We have used the distribution of genetic distances to demonstrate the genetic variability within studied species, in Paecilomyces spp. (Hyphomycetes) and Aschersonia spp. (Coelomycetes) in particular. We conclude that the RAPD-based analysis is useful for the reconstruction of intraspecific and interspecific relationships of the entomopathogenic fungi. Moreover, it can be employed to study the intergeneric relationships, especially in the case of closely related genera of the hyphomycetous entomopathogenic fungi. We propose that RAPD-based phylogeny and genetic variability reflect their life strategy. In our opinion, the mobility of spores represents a factor with major influence on the evolution of these entomopathogenic fungi.Key words: Paecilomyces, Verticillium, Aschersonia, RAPD, phylogeny, genetic variability.
Laboratory Evaluation of The Selected Entomopathogenic Fungi and Bacteria Against Larval and Pupal Stages ofSpodoptera lituraL
