Entomopathogenic fungus

WikiDoc Resources for Entomopathogenic fungus

Articles

Most recent articles on Entomopathogenic fungus

Most cited articles on Entomopathogenic fungus

Review articles on Entomopathogenic fungus

Articles on Entomopathogenic fungus in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Entomopathogenic fungus

Images of Entomopathogenic fungus

Photos of Entomopathogenic fungus

Podcasts & MP3s on Entomopathogenic fungus

Videos on Entomopathogenic fungus

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Entomopathogenic fungus

Bandolier on Entomopathogenic fungus

TRIP on Entomopathogenic fungus

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Entomopathogenic fungus at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Entomopathogenic fungus

Clinical Trials on Entomopathogenic fungus at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Entomopathogenic fungus

NICE Guidance on Entomopathogenic fungus

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Entomopathogenic fungus

CDC on Entomopathogenic fungus

Books

Books on Entomopathogenic fungus

News

Entomopathogenic fungus in the news

Be alerted to news on Entomopathogenic fungus

News trends on Entomopathogenic fungus

Commentary

Blogs on Entomopathogenic fungus

Definitions

Definitions of Entomopathogenic fungus

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Entomopathogenic fungus

Discussion groups on Entomopathogenic fungus

Patient Handouts on Entomopathogenic fungus

Directions to Hospitals Treating Entomopathogenic fungus

Risk calculators and risk factors for Entomopathogenic fungus

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Entomopathogenic fungus

Causes & Risk Factors for Entomopathogenic fungus

Diagnostic studies for Entomopathogenic fungus

Treatment of Entomopathogenic fungus

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Entomopathogenic fungus

International

Entomopathogenic fungus en Espanol

Entomopathogenic fungus en Francais

Business

Entomopathogenic fungus in the Marketplace

Patents on Entomopathogenic fungus

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Entomopathogenic fungus

An entomopathogenic fungus is a fungus that can act as a parasite of insects and kills or seriously disables them.

Grasshoppers killed by the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)

## Contents

* 1 Typical life cycle
* 2 Groups
* 3 Use of entomopathogenic fungi in the biological control of pests
* 4 External links

## Typical life cycle

[edit | edit source]

Green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, killed by the fungus Pandora neoaphidis (Zygomycota: Entomophthorales) Scale bar = 0.3 mm.

These fungi usually attach to thhttp://wikidoc.org/index.php?title=Entomopathogenic_fungus&action=edit Editing Entomopathogenic fungus - wikidoce external body surface of insects in the form of microscopic spores (usually asexual, mitosporic spores also called conidia). Under permissive conditions of temperature and (usually high) moisture, these spores germinate, grow as hyphae and colonize the insect's cuticle; eventually they bore through it and reach the insects' body cavity (hemocoel). Then, the fungal cells proliferate in the host body cavity, usually as walled hyphae or in the form of wall-less protoplasts (depending on the fungus involved). After some time the insect is usually killed (sometimes by fungal toxins) and new propagules (spores) are formed in/on the insect if environmental conditions are again permissive; usually high humidity is required for sporulation.

## Groups

[edit | edit source]

The entomopathogenic fungi include taxa from several of the main fungal groups and do not form a monophyletic group. Many common and/or important entomopathogenic fungi are in the order Hypocreales of the Ascomycota: the asexual (anamorphic) phases Beauveria, Metarhizium, Nomuraea, Paecilomyces = Isaria, Hirsutella and the sexual state Cordyceps; others (Entomophthora, Zoophthora, Pandora, Entomophaga) belong in the order Entomophthorales of the Zygomycota.

Related fungi attack and kill other invertebrates (e.g nematodes).

## Use of entomopathogenic fungi in the biological control of pests

[edit | edit source]

Since they are considered natural mortality agents and environmentally safe, there is worldwide interest in the utilization and manipulation of entomopathogenic fungi for biological control of insects and other arthropod pests. In particular, the asexual phases of Ascomycota (Beauveria, Metarhizium, Paecilomyces and others) are under intense scrutiny due to the traits favoring their use as bioinsecticides.

Production. Most entomopathogenic fungi can be grown on artificial media. However, some require extremely complex media; others, like Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, can be grown on starch-rich substrates like cereal grains (rice, wheat).

Virulence. The Entomophthorales are often reported as causing high levels of mortality (epizootics) in nature. These fungi are highly virulent. The anamorphic Ascomycota (Metarhizium, Beauveria etc.) are reported as causing epizootics less frequently in nature.

Also important are their properties regarding specificity (host range), storage, formulation, and application.

See the desert locust page for use of Metarhizium as a bioinsecticide.

## External links

[edit | edit source]

* Entomopathogens and microbial control, from the University of Warwick
* Insect mycology, by Dr. Richard A. Humber
* USDA-ARS Collection of Entomopathogenic Fungi

Template:WH Template:WikiDoc Sources