OPEN ACCESS | Published on : 16-Apr-2026 | Pages: 53-62 | Doi : 10.37446/edibook252025/53-62
Insect pests and plant pathogens represent significant problems to agriculture, while reliance on chemical pesticides poses environmental and health hazards. Endophytic microbes, particularly fungi like Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, colonize plant tissues without causing harm while increasing resistance to pests and diseases. They affect pests directly by infecting them and creating harmful metabolites, as well as indirectly by regulating plant defences and emitting volatiles that attract natural enemies. Endophytes can be spread vertically by seeds or horizontally via environmental spores and vectors, allowing for long-term colonization. Including endophytes in integrated pest management minimises pesticide use, promotes sustainable practices and strengthens agroecosystems. Despite limitations such as slower insect death, environmental sensitivity and potential effects on natural enemies, endophytes provide promising eco-friendly techniques for long-term crop protection.
Endophytes, B. bassiana, M. anisopliae, Integrated Pest Management, Fungi
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