Entomopathogenic Fungi in Biological Plant Protection: The Machinery of Multicomponent System Interactions

Dear Colleagues,

Hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are found in disparate habitats all over the world. They have risen in importance as environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides. Development of EPF for biocontrol of arthropod pests requires much knowledge of fungal biology, ecology, and evolution. Currently, over 700 EPF-based products are sold worldwide. The market share is increasing and will continue to increase as more growers become familiar with these organisms but also because these fungi have been shown to stimulate plant growth and increase the host’s resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. Some of the advances were possible due to a better understanding of the evolution of EPF and their plasticity, especially adaptation to both invertebrate and plant hosts. EPF have been a leading source of compounds that have subsequently been developed into therapeutics (e.g., cyclosporin and myricoin). The metabolites serve many other functions that contribute to EPF success.

This Special Issue is aimed at attracting high-quality articles on the biology of EPF and their use in plant protection programmes, providing insights into the latest findings and challenges. The articles should cover both fundamental and applied research.

Dr. Ivan M. Dubovskiy
Dr. Tariq Butt
Guest Editors

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