abiotic environment (Bulgarelli et al. 2013). Root exudates contain different
metabolites that play a role in modulating the composition of the root microbiome
(Busby et al. 2017; Sasse et al. 2018). One of the functions of production and
induction of plant secondary metabolites is to deter the herbivores. Plant secondary
metabolites can affect the growth and development of EIPF in vitro and herbivores
directly; however, some herbivores can utilize plant metabolites for their own benefit
(Joshi et al. 2018). There is a lack of data about the in planta production of secondary
metabolites by EIPF even if the metabolites have been produced by EIPF in vitro.
Lack of accuracy in the detection of secondary metabolites produced by EIPF may in
some cases be because the metabolites may be transient or in levels below our ability
to detect them (Fan et al. 2017). Additionally, it may be difficult to differentiate
whether the concentration and composition of metabolites is produced by the plant
or EIPF in multitrophic associations.
13.8 Applications of EIPF in Sustainable Agriculture
and Biotechnology
There is increasing interest in understanding the role of and potential for exploiting
the soil microbiome, and of EIPF, specifically, to enhance plant productivity and
tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress in agricultural systems. Plants can establish
diverse associations with a variety of microbes, and developing multi-species
microbiological consortium may help achieve effective pest management and better
crop production. EIPF have the potential to provide beneficial ecosystem services
where synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are not available, are too expensive, or are
not allowed, such as in organic production systems (Kang et al. 2018). Indeed,
various species of Metarhizium, Beauveria and Isaria have been developed commercially as biopesticides (Bing and Lewis 1991; Castrillo et al. 2011). In the United
States, examples of commercial products registered for direct arthropod pest control
in various settings include Met52
® (Metarhizium brunneum); BotaniGard
® ,
Mycotrol
® and Aprehend
® (Beauveria bassiana), and NoFly
® and Pfr-97
® (Isaria
fumosorosea). The discovery of the multiple beneficial effects of EIPF, for example,
as a biofertilizer, could be used to promote greater market demand for current and
development of new EIPF-based products to improve the sustainability and productivity of crop production (de Faria and Wraight 2007; Mascarin and Jaronski 2016).
Many EIPF species have shown promising results in the laboratory in increasing
tolerance of plants to insect pests and phytopathogens (Jaber and Ownley 2018). The
impacts of EIPF as endophytes in tritrophic interactions are under-explored although
their role in plant growth promotion and insect pathogenicity is now well-described
for many plant species (Liao et al. 2017; Sasan and Bidochka 2012). Even so, little is
known about how to consistently exploit these beneficial interactions in the field.
Research focused on improvement of environmental persistence, competitiveness
with other rhizosphere microorganisms, and improvements in direct and indirect
virulence against target pests and efficiency of endophytic colonization of plants by
EIPF must be expanded (Moonjely et al. 2016).
13 The Role of Endophytic Insect-Pathogenic Fungi in Biotic Stress Management
391
metabolites that play a role in modulating the composition of the root microbiome
(Busby et al. 2017; Sasse et al. 2018). One of the functions of production and
induction of plant secondary metabolites is to deter the herbivores. Plant secondary
metabolites can affect the growth and development of EIPF in vitro and herbivores
directly; however, some herbivores can utilize plant metabolites for their own benefit
(Joshi et al. 2018). There is a lack of data about the in planta production of secondary
metabolites by EIPF even if the metabolites have been produced by EIPF in vitro.
Lack of accuracy in the detection of secondary metabolites produced by EIPF may in
some cases be because the metabolites may be transient or in levels below our ability
to detect them (Fan et al. 2017). Additionally, it may be difficult to differentiate
whether the concentration and composition of metabolites is produced by the plant
or EIPF in multitrophic associations.
13.8 Applications of EIPF in Sustainable Agriculture
and Biotechnology
There is increasing interest in understanding the role of and potential for exploiting
the soil microbiome, and of EIPF, specifically, to enhance plant productivity and
tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress in agricultural systems. Plants can establish
diverse associations with a variety of microbes, and developing multi-species
microbiological consortium may help achieve effective pest management and better
crop production. EIPF have the potential to provide beneficial ecosystem services
where synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are not available, are too expensive, or are
not allowed, such as in organic production systems (Kang et al. 2018). Indeed,
various species of Metarhizium, Beauveria and Isaria have been developed commercially as biopesticides (Bing and Lewis 1991; Castrillo et al. 2011). In the United
States, examples of commercial products registered for direct arthropod pest control
in various settings include Met52
® (Metarhizium brunneum); BotaniGard
® ,
Mycotrol
® and Aprehend
® (Beauveria bassiana), and NoFly
® and Pfr-97
® (Isaria
fumosorosea). The discovery of the multiple beneficial effects of EIPF, for example,
as a biofertilizer, could be used to promote greater market demand for current and
development of new EIPF-based products to improve the sustainability and productivity of crop production (de Faria and Wraight 2007; Mascarin and Jaronski 2016).
Many EIPF species have shown promising results in the laboratory in increasing
tolerance of plants to insect pests and phytopathogens (Jaber and Ownley 2018). The
impacts of EIPF as endophytes in tritrophic interactions are under-explored although
their role in plant growth promotion and insect pathogenicity is now well-described
for many plant species (Liao et al. 2017; Sasan and Bidochka 2012). Even so, little is
known about how to consistently exploit these beneficial interactions in the field.
Research focused on improvement of environmental persistence, competitiveness
with other rhizosphere microorganisms, and improvements in direct and indirect
virulence against target pests and efficiency of endophytic colonization of plants by
EIPF must be expanded (Moonjely et al. 2016).
13 The Role of Endophytic Insect-Pathogenic Fungi in Biotic Stress Management
391