Isolation and identification of entomopathogenic fungi with mycoinsecticidal potential from agricultural fields in Sindh, Pakistan

A total of 151 samples were collected from rhizospheric soil, insect cadavers, and plant parts across 24 districts of Sindh between January and December 2023. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) were recovered from 29.14% of the samples (n = 44), while the remaining 70.86% (n = 107) yielded either other fungal species or no growth. Eleven EPF genera were identified, with Beauveria (12 isolates), Metarhizium (9), Isaria (6), Lecanicillium (5), and Nomuraea (4) being the most common; Beauveria was the most frequently isolated genus, accounting for 27.3% of all EPF isolates. EPF recovery was highest from soil samples (23 isolates), followed by insect cadavers (18) and plant parts (3). The highest number of isolates (6) was obtained from Khairpur district. Notably, EPF were isolated from major crops such as wheat, sugarcane, and paddy. Laboratory bioassays against mustard aphids revealed significant insecticidal potential in isolates PPL 75, PPL 81, and PPL 83, all exhibiting low LC50 values. Screen house trials confirmed these results, with PPL 75 (B. bassiana) achieving a 97.8% reduction in aphid populations and PPL 83 (M. anisopliae) 93.1%. Re-isolation from aphid cadavers further validated the pathogenicity of these strains. This study confirms the diversity of EPF in Sindh’s agriculture and underscores the biocontrol potential of indigenous strains. Despite prior reports from Pakistan, commercial products remain absent due to methodological and developmental gaps. The findings lay a foundation for developing locally adapted EPF-based pest management strategies.