Current status and future prospects of entomopathogenic fungi: A potential source of biopesticides

The use of chemical pesticides in agriculture has been of great concern due to their adverse effects on health and the environment; hence the need to come up with alternative ways of controlling plant pests and diseases. Biopesticides are one of the means to achieve healthy agricultural practices while being environmentally friendly without compromising productivity. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have been used to effectively control insect pests for so long and therefore promise a paradigm shift in the pesticide industry. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for the development of EPF formulations that have already been characterized to ensure an adequate supply of biopesticides. Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae have been used for decades for insect pest management. Notably, several steps are involved in the identification, formulation, and use of different EPF as biopesticides, and there is growing molecular research on how to improve the effectiveness of these fungi. This chapter explores the current status of EPF-based biopesticides and their future in insect pest control.