Utilization of Metarhizium as an insect biocontrol agent and a plant bioinoculant with special reference to Brazil
Brazil has a long history of using biological control and has the largest program in sugarcane agriculture to which a biocontrol program has been applied. This achievement is at least partly due to the utilization of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium. This well-known fungal genus exhibits path...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Fungal Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffunb.2023.1276287/full |
| _version_ | 1797384250577649664 |
|---|---|
| author | Emily Mesquita Shasha Hu Tais B. Lima Patricia Silva Golo Michael J. Bidochka |
| author_facet | Emily Mesquita Shasha Hu Tais B. Lima Patricia Silva Golo Michael J. Bidochka |
| author_sort | Emily Mesquita |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Brazil has a long history of using biological control and has the largest program in sugarcane agriculture to which a biocontrol program has been applied. This achievement is at least partly due to the utilization of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium. This well-known fungal genus exhibits pathogenicity against a broad range of arthropod hosts and has been used globally as a biocontrol agent. This fungus is also a root symbiont, and in this capacity, it is a plant growth promoter. However, this feature (i.e., as a plant symbiont) has yet to be fully explored and implemented in Brazil, although the number of reports demonstrating Metarhizium’s utility as a plant bioinoculant is increasing. The Brazilian bioproduct industry targets agricultural pests, and is limited to two Metarhizium species represented by four fungal isolates as active ingredients. Entomopathogenic fungi have also been successful in controlling arthropods of public health concern, as shown in their control of mosquitoes, which are vectors of diseases. The isolation of new indigenous Metarhizium isolates from a variety of substrates such as soil, insects, and plants shows the wide genetic diversity within this fungal genus. In this review, we emphasize the significance of Metarhizium spp. for the biological control of insects in Brazil. We also suggest that the experience and success of biological control with fungi in Brazil is an important resource for developing integrated pest management and sustainable strategies for pest control worldwide. Moreover, the future implementation prospects of species of Metarhizium being used as bioinoculants and possible new advances in the utility of this fungus are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:33:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f2ed1f43ed734105a6a91cb9f1ec9545 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-6128 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:33:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Fungal Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-f2ed1f43ed734105a6a91cb9f1ec95452023-12-21T04:48:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Fungal Biology2673-61282023-12-01410.3389/ffunb.2023.12762871276287Utilization of Metarhizium as an insect biocontrol agent and a plant bioinoculant with special reference to BrazilEmily Mesquita0Shasha Hu1Tais B. Lima2Patricia Silva Golo3Michael J. Bidochka4Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, CanadaDepartment of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Seropedica, RJ, BrazilDepartment of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, CanadaBrazil has a long history of using biological control and has the largest program in sugarcane agriculture to which a biocontrol program has been applied. This achievement is at least partly due to the utilization of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium. This well-known fungal genus exhibits pathogenicity against a broad range of arthropod hosts and has been used globally as a biocontrol agent. This fungus is also a root symbiont, and in this capacity, it is a plant growth promoter. However, this feature (i.e., as a plant symbiont) has yet to be fully explored and implemented in Brazil, although the number of reports demonstrating Metarhizium’s utility as a plant bioinoculant is increasing. The Brazilian bioproduct industry targets agricultural pests, and is limited to two Metarhizium species represented by four fungal isolates as active ingredients. Entomopathogenic fungi have also been successful in controlling arthropods of public health concern, as shown in their control of mosquitoes, which are vectors of diseases. The isolation of new indigenous Metarhizium isolates from a variety of substrates such as soil, insects, and plants shows the wide genetic diversity within this fungal genus. In this review, we emphasize the significance of Metarhizium spp. for the biological control of insects in Brazil. We also suggest that the experience and success of biological control with fungi in Brazil is an important resource for developing integrated pest management and sustainable strategies for pest control worldwide. Moreover, the future implementation prospects of species of Metarhizium being used as bioinoculants and possible new advances in the utility of this fungus are discussed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffunb.2023.1276287/fullentomopathogenic fungiendophytesnative isolatesrhizosphere-competenceintegrated pest management (IPM) |
| spellingShingle | Emily Mesquita Shasha Hu Tais B. Lima Patricia Silva Golo Michael J. Bidochka Utilization of Metarhizium as an insect biocontrol agent and a plant bioinoculant with special reference to Brazil Frontiers in Fungal Biology entomopathogenic fungi endophytes native isolates rhizosphere-competence integrated pest management (IPM) |
| title | Utilization of Metarhizium as an insect biocontrol agent and a plant bioinoculant with special reference to Brazil |
| title_full | Utilization of Metarhizium as an insect biocontrol agent and a plant bioinoculant with special reference to Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Utilization of Metarhizium as an insect biocontrol agent and a plant bioinoculant with special reference to Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilization of Metarhizium as an insect biocontrol agent and a plant bioinoculant with special reference to Brazil |
| title_short | Utilization of Metarhizium as an insect biocontrol agent and a plant bioinoculant with special reference to Brazil |
| title_sort | utilization of metarhizium as an insect biocontrol agent and a plant bioinoculant with special reference to brazil |
| topic | entomopathogenic fungi endophytes native isolates rhizosphere-competence integrated pest management (IPM) |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffunb.2023.1276287/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT emilymesquita utilizationofmetarhiziumasaninsectbiocontrolagentandaplantbioinoculantwithspecialreferencetobrazil AT shashahu utilizationofmetarhiziumasaninsectbiocontrolagentandaplantbioinoculantwithspecialreferencetobrazil AT taisblima utilizationofmetarhiziumasaninsectbiocontrolagentandaplantbioinoculantwithspecialreferencetobrazil AT patriciasilvagolo utilizationofmetarhiziumasaninsectbiocontrolagentandaplantbioinoculantwithspecialreferencetobrazil AT michaeljbidochka utilizationofmetarhiziumasaninsectbiocontrolagentandaplantbioinoculantwithspecialreferencetobrazil |