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Writer's pictureBryan Ramírez Castro

Entomopathogenic fungus

Entomopathogenic fungi are important controllers of pest-insects populations in agricultural production systems and in natural environment.

These fungi have enzymatic machinery which involve since the recognition and adherence of spores in their hosts culminating with infection and death of these insects. (Fernandes, E. G., Valério, H. M., Feltrin, T., & Van Der Sand, S. T. (2012)).


Moth parasitized by entomopathogenic fungus. Image by Ramírez Castro
Foto por: Bryan Andrés Ramírez Castro



Entomopathogenic fungi are able to cause infection to their hosts simply because the germinated spores have the ability to penetrate directly through the insect's cuticle by enzymatic hydrolysis.







The entomopathogenic fungi produce a range of cuticle degrading enzymes corresponding to different polymers of the insect cuticle. (Weiguo Fang, Monica Pava-ripoll, Sibao Wang, Raymond St. Leger. 2008)



cocoon parasitized by entomopathogenic fungus.Image by Ramírez Castro
Foto por: Bryan Andrés Ramírez Castro

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