Bioprospecção de fungos entomopatogênicos e nematófagos: uma abordagem inicial

Abstract

Entomopathogenic (EPF) and nematophagous fungi are organisms of significant interest for the biological control of pests and pathogens affecting plants and animals. The diversity of these fungi is extensive, particularly in tropical soils, and holds great potential for the development of biological control products. The present study aimed to bioprospect entomopathogenic and nematophagous fungi using different isolation methods. Protocols available in the literature were evaluated and adapted. Soil samples and arthropod cadavers were collected from fragments of native vegetation and agricultural areas, followed by isolation using the insect-bait technique and soil suspension plating on Water Agar medium. A total of 23 fungal isolates were obtained, characterized, and grouped into morphotypes belonging to the genera Arthrobotrys, Beauveria, Clonostachys, Monacrosporium, Metarhizium, Sesqucillium, and Purpureocillium. Some of the isolates were identfiied by molecular phylogenetic analysis of barcode gene regions. The isolates are preserved by cryopreservation and deposited in the Mycological Collection of Lavras (CML), ensuring their availability for future studies. These isolates may be evaluated for their effectiveness in controlling insect pests and plant pathogenic fungi, aiming at the selection of fungal strains for the development of sustainable biological control technologies. We could validate methods for the isolation of fungi, which occur in soil as parasites or pathogens of arthropods or nematoides.