Potential of Entomopathogenic Bacteria and Fungi

Abstract

Soil is a reservoir of numerous microorganisms critical for the sustainable functioning of natural and managed ecosystems. Entomopathogenic bacteria and fungi are natural enemies of pest-insects, whose utility in agroecosystems has been studied since decades. These entomopathogens spend significant time period in soil, either as saprotrophs, active conidia, resting spores or dormant endospores. In this chapter, we focus on: (a) the different bacterial and fungal species exhibiting entomopathogenicity; (b) insect-hosts and pathology; and (c) their survival in soil. Studying these aspects is of the utmost importance in fully exploiting the potential of these microorganisms. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and fungi from the orders Entomophthorales and Hypocreales are discussed in more details, pertaining to the amount of literature and their dominance in the microbial biopesticide industry.