Tomilova O.G.1,2, Sadokhina T.A.3, Zibaee A.4, Glupov V.V.1, Lednev G.R.2 2025. [Entomopathogenic fungi: from biocontrol of insect pests to plant immunomodulation (current insights)] // Euroasian Entomological Journal. Vol.24. No.3: 125–141 [in Russian, with English summary].
1 Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of RAS, Frunze Str. 11, Novosibirsk 630091 Russia. E-mail: toksina@mail.ru
2 All-Russian Institute of Plant Protection, Podbelskogo Shosse 3, St. Petersburg–Pushkin 196608 Russia.
3 Siberian Federal Research Center of Agrobiotechnologies of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirskaya oblast, Krasnoobsk 630501 Russia.
4 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Guilan Province, Rasht 4199613776 Iran. Е-mail: arash.zibaee@guilan.ac.ir
doi 10.15298/euroasentj.24.03.02
ABSTRACT. Entomopathogenic fungi can cause fatal infections in many groups of arthropods. Additionally, they can colonize plant tissues as asymptomatic endophytes. This endophytic behavior changes the established view of these microorganisms, the way they are studied, and their use in agriculture and forestry. This review summarizes the effects of endophytic colonization by entomopathogenic fungi on host plants and their growth. Particular attention is given to how endophytic forms of entomopathogenic fungi affect the abundance of phytophages, plant resistance to phytopathogens and abiotic stresses. However, the published data are contradictory and do not always align with known mechanisms that could explain these effects. The influence of factors inhibiting the systemic growth of fungi in plant parts is also noted. This review discusses these and other problems related to using endophytic entomopathogenic fungi as multifunctional biological products.
KEY WORDS: Entomopathogenic fungi, endophyte, inoculation methods, growth stimulation, phytophage, phytopathogen, abiotic stress, multifunctional biopreparation, biocontrol.