THE OCCURRENCE OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI IN SOILS FROM FIELDS CULTIVATED IN A CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC SYSTEM

• Main Authors: Cezary Tkaczuk, Anna Król, Anna Majchrowska-Safaryan, Łukasz Nicewicz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Polish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE) 2014-10-01
• Series: Journal of Ecological Engineering
• Subjects: entomopathogenic fungi; soil; arable field; conventional system of cultivation; organic system of cultivation
• Online Access: http://www.journalssystem.com/jeeng/The-occurrence-of-entomopathogenic-fungi-in-soils-from-fields-cultivated-in-a-conventional-and-organic-system,88,0,2.html

The occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi, involved in regulating the population of insects preying on arable crops, depends on numerous factors, such as using crop protection chemicals, which are prohibited in the organic tillage system. Using two methods: selective medium and the <i>Galleria mellonella</i> bait method, the species composition and the occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in soils deriving from organic and conventional fields sown with winter cereals were compared. Four entomopathogenic fungal species were identified in the samples: <i>Beauveria bassiana</i>, <i>Isaria fumosorosea</i>, <i>Metarhizium anisopliae</i> and <i>Lecanicillium</i> sp.. <i>M. anisopliae</i> was the most frequently detected one. <i>M. anisopliae</i> and <i>B. bassiana</i> formed more colony forming units in soils from organic fields, whereas <i>I. fumosorosea</i> in soils from the conventional ones.