Potential of entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium spp. in control of insects pest
2018
Farić, Nikolina | Sarajlić, Ankica | Vrandečić, Karolina | Majić, Ivana
Biological control of insect pests has increasing importance due to a insect resistance to certain chemical pesticides, and for the purpose of producing toxicologically safe food. Biological control methods are based on the application of natural agents such as pathogens, parasites and predators of insects pests. The aim of this paper is to reveal the advantages and disadvantages of Metarhizium based mycoinsecticides. We discussed the biology of these entomopathogenic fungi, their interaction with the plant, the environment, other organisms and agrochemicals, and their availability on the market. Successful examples of Metarhizium spp. in the control of wireworms (Elateridae), olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae), two-spotted sprider mite (Tetranychus urticae) and pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyri) are described. The efficiency of Metarhizium spp. in control of important pests provided results that are comparable to the chemical pesticides. Besides their properties as biopesticides, Metarhizium spp. are also considered as biostimulators or biofertilizers. Availability, high price of mycoinsecticides, and a small number of researches done in the fields are major causes of poor utilization of this bioagent.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Zadružna štampa d.d.