OCCURRENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI IN IRAQI AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS

Mohammed W. Khudhair, Hussain F. Alrubeai, Mohammed Z. Khalaf, Ali K. Shbar, Bassim S. Hamad, Hiatham S. Khalaf

Abstract


The occurrence and distribution of entomopathogenic fungi were investigated in Iraqi province agro-ecosystems using Galleria mellonella bait trap technique. Over three hundred soil samples were collected from 42 sites and from specific points according to Global Positioning System (GPS) during two seasons of (2012 and 2013) and 31% of the collected samples expressed entomopathogenic fungi. Over 94 isolates were collected from the examined soil sources and sites. Results revealed that 75.5% of the isolated entomopathogenic fungi were Beauveria bassiana and 18.1% were Metarhizium anisopliae followed by Lecanicillium lecanii with 4.3 %. Mixed palm and citrus orchards showed the highest entomopathogenic frequency rate with 55.3% followed by only date palm orchards with 17%. South and Middle of Iraq sites revealed the highest occurrence percentage with about 90% of the isolates.

Keywords


Entomopathogenic fungi, occurrence, distribution, agro-ecosystem, GPS

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