Molecular Microbiology Research 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 92-98 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 92 Research Report Open Access Harnessing Entomopathogenic Fungi for Pest Control in Rice: Case Studies and Efficacy Jianquan Li Hainan Institute of Troppical Agricultural Resources (HITAR), Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China Corresponding email: jianquanli@hitar.org Molecular Microbiology Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.2 doi: 10.5376/mmr.2024.14.0010 Received: 20 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 27 Mar., 2024 Published: 09 Apr., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Li, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Li J.Q., 2024, Harnessing entomopathogenic fungi for pest control in rice: case studies and efficacy, Molecular Microbiology Research, 14(1): 92-98 (doi: 10.5376/mmr.2024.14.0010) Abstract Rice, the staple food of more than half of the world's population, faces serious threats from a variety of pests during its cultivation, resulting in critical losses in yield and quality. Although the use of chemical pesticides is effective to a certain extent, its potential threats to environmental safety, human health, and the induction of pest resistance have aroused widespread concern. This study explores the potential of entomopathogenic fungi as a sustainable pest management approach in rice fields. These naturally occurring fungi work by infecting and killing pests without causing harm to non-target organisms or the rice microbiome. We discuss the biological properties of well-known fungal species such as Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Paecilomyces farinosus, including their life cycles, host infection mechanisms and pest control efficacy. This study reviews some case studies that demonstrate control efficiency comparable to chemical treatment, proposes recommendations for further research, and highlights the potential of integrating insect pathogenic fungi into sustainable agricultural practices, emphasizing their role in achieving environmentally friendly pest management while maintaining high agricultural productivity. Keywords Rice; Entomopathogenic fungi; Rice pest control; Sustainable agriculture; Biological pesticides; Eco-friendly 1 Introduction Rice is a staple food for more than half of the world's population, providing a primary source of nutrition and energy to billions of people. Its cultivation is of paramount importance to global food security. However, rice production is frequently threatened by a variety of pests, including insects like planthoppers, stem borers, and leaf folders, which can cause significant yield losses (Peng et al., 2020). The management of these pests is a critical aspect of rice farming and has traditionally relied on chemical pesticides. However, the use of such chemicals has raised concerns due to their environmental impact, effects on non-target organisms, and the development of pest resistance. Rice pests pose a significant challenge to agricultural productivity. The rice planthopper, for example, is a major pest that not only damages the rice plants directly but also acts as a vector for plant diseases (Peng et al., 2020). The control of these pests is essential to maintain rice yields and ensure food security. Biological control methods offer an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. These methods involve the use of living organisms to suppress pest populations. Entomopathogenic fungi are a group of naturally occurring fungi that infect and kill insects. They have been recognized as promising biological control agents due to their specificity to target pests and minimal impact on non-target species, including humans and beneficial insects. These fungi can also play additional ecological roles, such as promoting plant growth and antagonizing plant pathogens (Vega et al., 2009; Jaber and Ownley, 2018). This study attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of the current research status and case analysis in this field to demonstrate the application and effectiveness of these fungi, emphasizing the potential of insect pathogenic fungi for sustainable pest management in rice production, particularly their impact on pest populations, non target organisms, and overall plant health. The aim is to understand the practical significance of using insect pathogenic fungi and identify areas that require further research to optimize their use in integrated pest management strategies.
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