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ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI – Isaria fumosorosea General Characteristics of Isaria fumosorosea Isaria fumosorosea  and  Isaria farinose are formerly known as  Paecilomyces fumosoroseus and  Paecilomyces farinosus , are important entomopathogenic fungi with a worldwide distribution and multiple host insects. Isaria fumosorosea  have multiple hosts, do not show harmful effects linked to the use of chemical pesticides, and are considered to be environmentally friendly. Besides their application as pest biocontrol agents, both Isaria fumosorosea  and  Isaria farinose have potential uses in the biotransformation of flavonoids glycosides, steroids, etc. Habitat of Isaria fumosorosea   Isaria fumosorosea is commonly found in the soil but has been reported on plants, in water, and less commonly in air. Target Insects of Isaria fumosorosea   Isaria fumosorosea  is a species complex and mainly infects Hemipteran and Lepidopteron insects, such as Aphids, Leafhoppers, Whiteflies, and the Asian citr

ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI – Metarhizium anisopliae General Characteristics of Metarhizium anisopliae Metarhizium  sp. (Order: Hypocreales, Family: Clavicipitaceae), also known as Green Muscardine Fungi, have long been recognized for their biological control potential against Arthropods. As early as 1879, Metarhizium were being evaluated for control of Wheat Chafer Beetles,  Anisoplia austriaca , and Sugar Beet Curculio,  Cleonus punctiventris in Ukraine. The species level name of one of the more widely researched  Metarhizium  species ( M. anisopliae ) was derived from the Anisoplia austriaca beetle. Metarhizium anisopliae  was also known as  Entomophthora anisopliae  in the early 1900s. The disease caused by the Metarhizium anisopliae is called Green Muscardine Disease because of the green colour of its spores. Strains of  Metarhizium anisopliae  have lost the capability of reproducing sexually. The Metarhizium genus comprises mostly Entomopathogenic fungi, some are generalists whil

ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI – Beauveria bassiana General Characteristics of Beauveria bassiana Beauveria bassiana  (also called White Muscadine Fungi) is an entomopathogenic fungi that causes White Muscadine Disease in a range of insects. Beauveria bassiana belongs to fungal Sub-division: Deuteromycotina and Order: Hyphomycetes. It has a simple life cycle with no known sexual stage; the asexual spores are called conidia. The genus Beauveria contains at least 49 species of which approximately 22 are considered pathogenic. Species within the genus Beauveria are typically differentiated from other fungi by morphological characteristics. They are filamentous fungi that produce colorless (hyaline) aerial conidia from conidiogenous cells freely on the mycelia. Beauveria bassiana are able to reproduce either sexually or asexually. The production of multiple spore types increases the chances of survival during adverse environmental conditions. These spore types can be produced in response to envir

ENTOMOPATHOGENIC VIRUS – Cydia Pomonella Granulovirus (CpGv) General Characteristics of Cydia Pomonella Granulovirus (CpGv) Baculoviruses are insect pathogenic viruses, which are widely used as biological control agents of insect pests in agriculture and forestry. One of the most important commercially used Baculoviruses is the Cydia Pomonella Granulovirus (CpGV) or Coding moth Granulosis Virus. CpGV belongs to the genus Betabaculovirus (Granulovirus) of the Baculoviridae family. CpGV have circular Double stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome is 123.5 kilobase pairs (kbp) in size. The genetic material of Cydia Pomonella Granulovirus (CpGV) is easily destroyed by exposure to sunlight or by conditions in the host's gut, an infective Baculovirus particle (Virion) is protected by protein coat called a Polyhedron. CpGV viruses are unable to reproduce without a host - they are Obligate parasites. History of Cydia Pomonella Granulovir

ENTOMOPATHOGENIC BACTERIA -  Bacillus thuringiensis General Characteristics of Bacillus thuringiensis Gram’s classification – Gram positive Shape – Rod shape Arrangement - Single, pair or chains Size – Measures 1.0 – 1.2 μ m wide and 3.0 – 5.0 μ m in length Family – Bacillaceae Motility – Motile due to Peritrichous flagella Capsule – Absent Endospores – Cylindrical endospores (central to sub-terminal) Respiration – Facultative anaerobic soil dwelling bacteria. Optimum Temperature – A rise of temperature from 20 °C to 35 °C doubled the titre of spores and increased their thermoresistance. When the temperature of cultivation was increased to 40 °C, the process of spore formation was inhibited. Optimum pH – 9.5. Cell inclusion - Contains a parasporal inclusion body called Crystal proteins (Cry proteins) or δ -endotoxin (Delta endotoxin). Habitat - Bacillus thuringi