El. knyga: Role of Entomopathogenic Fungi in Agriculture

"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 useof 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 fungi, the insect-pathogenic species have been in use for more than 150 years. These include the most popular strains belonging to the genera Beauveria, Hirsutella, Isaria, Lecanicillium. Metarhizium, Tolypocladium, Trichoderma, and Verticillium. 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 this light, the potential of entomopathogenic fungi can be used as alternatives or perhaps as supplements to chemical pesticides in plant protection. The proposed book is an effort to bring in the molecular aspects of the pathogenesis of entomopathogenic fungi, various aspects of the development of mycoinsecticides, and regulatory aspects to highlight the immense contribution of the agricultural sector. We expect about 20 book chapters inthe book under the different thematic areas proposed. The contributors would be from academia as well as industry in countries such as Brazil, China, India, Israel, Mexico, Pakistan, and Thailand, USA. The book Entomopathogenic Fungi: Pest Control and Beyond will address various aspects of entomopathogenic fungi, including host-pathogen interactions (susceptibility and resistance), fungus-insect and fungus-fungus dual interactions, phylogeny and taxonomy, biochemistry, and molecular basis of enteropathogenesis, market potential of entomopathogens, regulatory aspects, bioprospecting of fungi, fungi as crop bodyguards and in disease suppression, and consortia for the control of insect pests and pathogens in single crop systems"--

Entomopathogenic fungi are economically important fungi from environmental, agricultural, and human health perspectives. They are an alternative to chemical pesticides. They can also be used as biostimulants and biological control agents for mosquitoes and other insects. These fungi are also known to produce a variety of metabolites of industrial significance. They face challenges in the cultivation, fermentation, and purification of products. Their habitats and ecological niches are of special significance for ex situ conservation and the large scale of production of spores.

This book reviews molecular aspects of the pathogenesis of entomopathogenic fungi, the development of mycoinsecticides, and its regulatory aspects. It addresses different aspects of entomopathogenic fungi, including host-pathogen interactions (susceptibility and resistance), fungus-insect and fungus-fungus dual interactions, phylogeny and taxonomy, biochemistry, and molecular basis of enteropathogenesis, market potential of entomopathogens, regulatory aspects, bioprospecting of fungi, fungi as crop bodyguards and in disease suppression, and consortia for the control of insect pests and pathogens in single crop systems.

Entomopathogenic fungi are economically important fungi from environmental, agricultural, and human health perspectives. They are an alternative to chemical pesticides. They can also be used as biostimulants and biological control agents for mosquitoes.