Combatting insects mediated biotic stress through plant associated endophytic entomopathogenic fungi in horticultural crops

Abstract

Horticultural production is a vital catalyst for economic growth, yet insect infestations reduce horticultural crop yield and quality. Pesticides and other pest control methods are used during planting to eliminate pests that cause direct and indirect losses. In such situations, endophytic entomo-pathogenic fungi (EEPF) can act as a potential tools for biological control. They protect plants by boosting growth, nutrition, morpho-physiology and salt or iron tolerance. Antixenosis, antibiosis and plant tolerance change insect performance and preferences. EEPF- plant colonisation slows herbivore development, food consumption, oviposition and larval survival. EEPF changes plant physio-chemical properties like volatile emission profile and secondary metabolite production to regulate insect pest defences. EEPF produces chitinases, laccases, amylases, and cellulases for plant defence. Recent studies focused on EEPF species’ significance, isolation, identification and field application. Realizing their full potential is difficult due to insufficient mass production, storage stability and formulation. Genetic-molecular and bioinformatics can help to build EEPF-based biological control systems. Metagenomics helps study microbial EEPF taxonomy and function. Multi-omics and system biology can decode EEPF interactions with host plants and microorganisms. NGS (Next Generation Sequencing), comparative genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, metatranscriptomics and microarrays are used to evaluate plant-EEPF relationships. IPM requires understanding the abiotic and biotic elements that influence plant-EEPF interaction and the physiological mechanisms of EEPF colonisation. Due to restricted research, there are hundreds of unexplored EEPFs, providing an urgent need to uncover and analyse them.

Exploring the potential of endophyte-plant interactions for improving crop sustainable yields in a changing climate

“…Additional information about the role of Endophytic EntomoPathogenic Fungi (EEPFs) was recently made available by ( Samal et al., 2023 ).…”

Approaches of Biochar in Ecosystem Management: current scenario and future perspectives

“…Ipsita Samal 1 † , Deepak Kumar Mahanta 2 † , Tanmaya Kumar Bhoi 3 , J. Komal 4 , Hanuman Singh Jatav 5 *, Surendra Singh Jatav 6 and Eetela Sathyanarayana 7 1 ICAR-National Research Centre on Litchi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India of diseases thanks to a defence system called SAR. Plant resistance to pests and diseases may rise as a result.…”

“…The growth and productivity of agricultural crops are profoundly impacted by a diverse range of biotic and abiotic factors [1,2]. To address these deficiencies, significant quantities of chemical fertilisers are applied to the soil [3,4]. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that plants possess a restricted capacity to assimilate watersoluble nutrients.…”

“…The remaining elements undergo a transformation process, leading to the creation of forms that are not soluble. Consequently, it becomes imperative to periodically administer fertilisers in order to ensure a consistent provision of essential nutrients for the purpose of facilitating plant growth [5]. The extensive utilisation of chemical fertilisers has resulted in the deterioration of ecosystems and various related problems, such as diminished nutritional value of crops and the long-term reduction of soil fertility [6,7].…”

Influence of Biochar on Soil Insect Dynamics and Infestation

“…Biochar, derived from the pyrolysis of organic materials under controlled conditions, manifests as a stable carbonaceous product [7]. Its application as a soil amendment dates back centuries, with historical practices like terra preta showcasing its enduring benefits in enhancing soil fertility and structure [8][9][10]. The porous nature of biochar contributes to its exceptional capacity for water retention, nutrient adsorption, and microbial habitat provision [11].…”