Isolation and molecular characterization of indigenous soil entomopathogenic fungi from agricultural and highland ecosystems of Pakistan for sustainable pest management
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20057999Keywords:
Entomopathogenic fungus, Biological control, Isolation, Molecular identification, ITS amplificationAbstract
Entomopathogenic fungi are the most practical alternative for insect pests in livestock and agriculture. In Pakistan, fungal identification has primarily relied on morphological characteristics, resulting in a lack of molecular validation. This study aimed to isolate and molecularly identify indigenous entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) from different ecological zones in Pakistan to develop environmentally sustainable biocontrol agents. Three entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs), namely Beauveria bassiana, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, and Purpureocillium lilacinum, with their accession numbers PQ285129, PQ551091, and PQ415785, respectively, were recovered from soils in Balochistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). Morphological characterization was complemented by ITS-based molecular phylogenetics, confirming their species identity. These findings provide a basis for developing region-specific biopesticides for sustainable pest control. The successful isolation and confirmation of these fungal species from different provinces also highlights their natural adaptation to local environments. This baseline information addresses the existing gap in documenting native EPF diversity in Pakistan and provides foundational data for developing locally adapted, region-specific biocontrol formulations for future pest management strategies.
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