Screening of entomopathogenic and endophytic fungi from various landscapes and evaluation of their antagonistic activity against Fusarium sp.
Abstract
Forestry research is increasingly focused on exploring microbial resources, including entomopathogenic endophytic fungi (EEFs), as potential biological control agent. This study aimed to explore and characterize fungal isolates obtained from different landscapes and biological sources in South Sulawesi and to evaluate the antagonistic activity of selected isolates against Fusarium sp. Sampling was conducted from May to July 2025 in a national park, forestry plant nursery, silkworm rearing centers, natural forests, plantation forests, community forests, and agroforestry systems. Insects, soil, and plant tissues were used as fungal isolation sources. Fungal isolates were characterized based on their morphological features and classified as entomopathogenic (EP), entomopathogenic endophytic (EEF), or endophytic (END) fungi according to their respective sources and observed characteristics. Three selected isolates were evaluated for antagonistic activity against Fusarium sp. using a dual-culture assay, and the data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s HSD test. A total of 72 fungal isolates representing nine fungal taxa were recovered from the different sampling sources. The isolates included Aspergillus sp., Simplicillium subtropicum, Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Cladosporium oxysporum, Trichoderma sp., Cordyceps sp., Gibellula sp., and the microsporidian pathogen Nosema bombycis. Among the selected isolates, S. subtropicum sp. KuBi1, B. bassiana, BGRSP, and C. oxysporum KeTi1 significantly inhibited the radial growth of Fusarium sp. compared with the untreated control (P < 0.05), with the highest percentage inhibition of radial growth reaching 56% for KeTi1. These findings indicate that the selected entomopathogenic fungi have potential as biological control candidates against Fusarium sp.; however, further greenhouse and field studies are required to validate their efficacy and assess their suitability for development as microbial biopesticides.
How to Cite
References
Ahsan SM, Injamum-Ul-Hoque M, Das AK, Rahman MM, Mollah MI, Paul NC, & Choi HW. 2024. Plant–entomopathogenic fungi interaction: recent progress and future prospects on endophytism-mediated growth promotion and biocontrol. Plants. 13(10): 1–29. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101420
Aravinthraju K, Shanthi M, Murugan M, Srinivasan R, Maxwell LA, Boopathi NM, & Anandham R. 2024. Endophytic entomopathogenic fungi: Their role in enhancing plant resistance, managing insect pests, and synergy with management routines. J. Fungi. 10(12): 865. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10120865
Bamisile BS, Siddiqui JA, Akutse KS, Ramos Aguila LC, & Xu Y. 2021. General limitations to endophytic entomopathogenic fungi use as plant growth promoters, pests and pathogens biocontrol agents. Plants. 10(10): 2119. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10102119
Benito-Delgado Á, Diez-Hermano S, & Diez JJ. 2025. Possibilities of native endophytic fungi as entomopathogenic biocontrol agents at a local scale: the case of deciduous and non-deciduous Mediterranean forest trees. J. For. Res. 36: 26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-024-01815-6
Birt HW, Tharp CL, Custer GF, & Dini-Andreote F. 2022. Root phenotypes as modulators of microbial microhabitats. Front. Plant Sci. 13: 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.1003868
Bustamante MI, Elfar K, & Eskalen A. 2022. Evaluation of the antifungal activity of endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria against grapevine trunk pathogens. Microorganisms. 10(10): 2035. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10102035
Camele I, Sadeek SA, Racioppi R, & Elshafie HS. 2023. Antimicrobial activity of diffusible and volatile metabolites emitted by Beauveria bassiana: Chemical profile of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using SPME-GC/MS analysis. Plants. 12(15): 2854. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12152854
Chiellini C, Lombardo K, Mocali S, Miceli E, & Fani R. 2019. Pseudomonas strains isolated from different environmental niches exhibit different antagonistic ability. Ethol. Ecol. Evol. 31(5): 399–420. https://doi.org/10.1080/03949370.2019.1621391
Erdiansyah I & Fauziah AN. 2024. Eksplorasi, identifikasi, dan karakterisasi nematoda entomopatogen pada lahan jagung dan padi [Exploration, identification, and characterization of entomopathogenic nematodes in corn and rice fields]. JIPI. 29(2): 173–178. https://doi.org/10.18343/jipi.29.2.173
Fitriana Y, Suharjo R, Swibawa IG, Purnomo, Lestari P, & Merdiana E. 2018. Influence of culture medium on the sporulation and viability of Aspergillus spp. and Talaromyces spp.entomopathogenic fungi. J. Trop. Plant Pests Dis. 18(1): 12–22. https://doi.org/10.23960/j.hptt.11812-22
Fitriana Y, Suharjo R, Swibawa IG, Semenguk B, Pasaribu LT, Hartaman M, Rwandini RA, Indriyati, Purnomo, & Solikhin. 2021. Aspergillus oryzae and Beauveria bassiana as entomopathogenic fungi of Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) infesting corn in Lampung, Indonesia. Egypt. J. Biol. Pest. Control. 31: 127. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-021-00473-8
González-Mas N, Gutiérrez-Sánchez F, Sánchez-Ortiz A, Grandi L, Turlings TCJ, Muñoz-Redondo JM, Moreno-Rojas JM, & Quesada-Moraga E. 2021. Endophytic colonization by the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana affects plant volatile emissions in the presence or absence of chewing and sap-sucking insects. Front. Plant Sci. 12: 660460. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.660460
Hu S & Bidochka MJ. 2021. Root colonization by endophytic insect-pathogenic fungi. J. Appl. Microbiol. 130(2): 570–581. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.14503
Jangid R & Ojha S. 2025. Methods for isolation of fungal community from varied sources: A review. Geomicrobiol. J. 42(10): 1101–1111. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2025.2540890
Karim H, Azis AA, & Jumadi O. 2022. Antagonistic activity and characterization of indigenous soil isolates of bacterial and fungi against onion wilt incited by Fusarium sp. Arch. Microbiol. 204: 68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-021-02663-2
Köhl J, Kolnaar R, & Ravensberg WJ. 2019. Mode of action of microbial biological control agents against plant diseases: Relevance beyond efficacy. Front. Plant Sci. 10: 845. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00845
Kuephadungphan W, Petcharad B, Tasanathai K, Thanakitpipattana D, Kobmoo N, Khonsanit A, Samson RA, & Luangsaard JJ. 2022. Multi-locus phylogeny unmasks hidden species within the specialised spider-parasitic fungus, Gibellula (Hypocreales, Cordycipitaceae) in Thailand. Stud. Mycol. 101(1): 245–286.
Lacey LA(ed.). 1997. Manual of techniques in insect pathology. pp.418. Academic Press. USA.https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-432555-5.X5000-3
Leyte-Lugo M, Páez-León S, Aguilar-Marcelino L, Palacios-Espinosa JF, & Castañeda-Ramírez GS. 2025. Metabolic profile of entomopathogenic fungi. In: Deshmukh SK & Sridhar K (Eds.). The Role of Entomopathogenic Fungi in Agriculture. pp. 224–266. CRC Press. Boca Raton. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003505228
Mantzoukas S & Eliopoulos PA. 2020. Endophytic entomopathogenic fungi: A valuable biological control tool against plant pests. Appl. Sci. 10(1): 360. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10010360
Mariappan K, Samuel JN, Sevugapperumal N, Uthandi S, Subbarayalu M, & Krishnamoorthi P. 2024. Entomopathogenic potential of indigenous Simplicillium subtropicum (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) isolates from Tamil Nadu, India, against the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Egypt. J. Biol. Pest Control. 34(1): 55. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-024-00820-5
Masoudi A, Wang M, Zhang X, Wang C, Qiu Z, Wang W, Wang H, & Liu J. 2020. Meta-analysis and evaluation by insect-mediated baiting reveal different patterns of hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi in the soils from two regions of China. Front. Microbiol. 11: 1133. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01133
McGuire AV & Northfield TD. 2020. Tropical occurrence and agricultural importance of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 4: 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.00006
Nada T, Ishiga Y, & Okane I. 2025. Phyllosphere arthropods facilitate secondary dispersal of putative mycoparasite Simplicillium: A potential biocontrol strategy for soybean rust. Microorganisms: 13(9): 2035. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13092035
Naeem-Ullah U, Ramzan M, Qayyum MA, Panhwar WA, Larik SA, Soomro SR, Dawoud TM, & Bourhia M. 2025. Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana on immature stages of leaf eating caterpillar, Trilocha varians (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae). Entomol. News. 132(2): 201–208. https://doi.org/10.3157/021.132.0209
Narsing Rao MP, Xiao M, & Li WJ. 2017. Fungal and bacterial pigments: Secondary metabolites with wide applications. Front. Microbiol. 8: 1113. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01113
Nehra S, Gothwal RK, Dhingra S, Varshney AK, Solanki PS, Meena P, Trivedi PC, & Ghosh P. 2022. Mechanism of antagonism: Hyperparasitism and antibiosis. In: Kumar (Ed.). Microbial Biocontrol: Sustainable Agriculture and Phytopathogen Management. pp. 257–277. Springer. Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87512-1_11
Nuraeni S, Soma AS, Sadapotto A, Mujetahid A, Baharuddin, Nur RJB, Huda N, & Fattah A. 2024. The pathological pebrine diseases of Bombyx mori caused by Nosema bombycis (mNb) in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas. 25(9): 2990–2995. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d250920
Panwar N & Szczepaniec A. 2024. Endophytic entomopathogenic fungi as biological control agents of insect pests. Pest Manag. Sci. 80(12): 6033–6040. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.8322
Paschapur A, Subbanna ARNS, Singh AK, Jeevan B, Stanley J, Rajashekhar H, & Mishra KK. 2021. Unraveling the importance of metabolites from entomopathogenic fungi. In: Khan MA Ahmad W (Eds.). Microbes for Sustainable Insect Pest Management. pp. 89–120. Springer. Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67231-7_5
Prihatiningsih N, Djatmiko HA, & Lestari P. 2022. Antagonistic features of endophytic bacteria consortium in controlling rice pathogens. J. Trop Plant Pests Dis. 22(2): 154–161. https://doi.org/10.23960/jhptt.222154-161
Quesada-Moraga E. 2020. Entomopathogenic fungi as endophytes: Their broader contribution to IPM and crop production. Biocontrol Sci. Technol. 30(9): 864–877. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2020.1771279
Quesada-Moraga E, Garrido-Jurado I, Yousef-Yousef M, & González-Mas N. 2022. Multitrophic interactions of entomopathogenic fungi in BioControl. BioControl. 67(5): 457–472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-022-10163-5
Ren X, Zhang Q, Zhang W, Mao J, & Li P. 2020. Control of aflatoxigenic molds by antagonistic microorganisms: Inhibitory behaviors, bioactive compounds, related mechanisms, and influencing factors. Toxins. 12(1): 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12010024
Reyes‐Haro L, Prince G, Granja‐Travez RS, & Chandler D. 2024. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of fifty strains of Beauveria spp. (Ascomycota, Cordycipitaceae) fungal entomopathogens from diverse geographic origins against the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Pest Manag. Sci. 80(10): 5064–5077. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.8230
Rosdee S, Wisessombat S, Tayeh M, Malakul R, Phanaksri T, & Sianglum W. 2025. Antibacterial activity of the endophytic fungal extracts and synergistic effects of combinations of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. PeerJ. 13: e19074. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19074
Shahbaz M, Palaniveloo K, Tan YS, Palasuberniam P, Ilyas N, Wiart C, & Seelan JSS. 2024. Entomopathogenic fungi in crop protection with an emphasis on bioactive metabolites and biological activities. World J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 40(7): 217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-024-04022-x
Sharma IP & Sharma AK. 2020. Trichoderma–Fusarium interactions: A biocontrol strategy. In: Sharma A & Sharma P (Eds.). Trichoderma. Rhizosphere Biology. pp. 167–185. Springer. Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3321-1_9
Swathy K, Vivekanandhan P, Yuvaraj A, Sarayut P, Kim JS, & Krutmuang P. 2024. Biodegradation of pesticide in agricultural soil employing entomopathogenic fungi: Current state of the art and future perspectives. Heliyon. 10(1): e23406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23406
Verma SK, Sahu PK, Kumar K, Pal G, Gond SK, Kharwar RN, & White JF. 2021. Endophyte roles in nutrient acquisition, root system architecture development and oxidative stress tolerance. J. Appl. Microbiol. 131(5): 2161–2177. https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.15111
Vivekanandhan P, Kamaraj C, Alharbi SA, & Ansari MJ. 2024. Novel report on soil infection with Metarhizium rileyi against soil-dwelling pests. J. Basic Microbiol. 64(8): e2400159. https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.202400159
Wen J, Okyere SK, Wang S, Wang J, Xie L, Ran Y, & Hu Y. 2022. Endophytic fungi: An effective alternative source of plant-derived bioactive compounds for pharmacological studies. J. Fungi. 8(2): 205. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8020205
Xiong Q, Yang J, & Ni S. 2023. Microbiome-mediated protection in woody plants. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 24(22): 16118. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216118
Yang N, Zhang W, Wang D, Cao D, Cao Y, He W, Lin Z, Chen X,Ye G, Chen Z, & Wei X. 2023. A novel endophytic fungus strain of Cladosporium: its identification, genomic analysis, and effects on plant growth. Front. Microbiol. 14: 1287582. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1287582
Zhang L, Fasoyin OE, Molnár I, & Xu Y. 2020. Secondary metabolites from hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi: Novel bioactive compounds. Nat. Prod. Rep. 37(9): 1181–1206. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9NP00065H
Zhang Q, Lai W, Li Q, Zhang X, Lu ZP, Jiang J, Yu W, Shao Z, Wang X, & Li MW. 2025. Isolation, identification, and virulence of Beauveria bassiana strains from silkworms Bombyx mori. J. Asia-Pac. Entomol. 28(2): 102385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aspen.2025.102385
Zhao J, Chen Y, Keyhani NO, Wang C, Li Y, Pu H, Li J, Liu S, Lai P, Zhu M, & He X. 2023. Isolation of a highly virulent Metarhizium strain targeting the tea pest, Ectropis obliqua. Front. Microbiol. 14: 1164511. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1164511
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Jurnal Hama dan Penyakit Tumbuhan Tropika
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The copyright of each published article are with the Jurnal Hama dan Penyakit Tumbuhan Tropika : Journal of Tropical Plant Pests and Diseases. By submitting and publishing manuscript in Jurnal Hama dan Penyakit Tumbuhan Tropika: Journal of Tropical Plant Pests and Diseases, the author(s) grant the journal the right of first publication and the right to publish, reproduce, and disseminate the article in various formats, including print, online, and electronic media, with full acknowledgment of the author(s) as the copyright holder(s).
All articles published in Jurnal Hama dan Penyakit Tumbuhan Tropika: Journal of Tropical Plant Pests and Diseases are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial (CC BY-NC) license. Under this license, others are permitted to copy, distribute, display, and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and source. Any commercial use of the published material is prohibited without prior written consent from the author(s).
The journal reserves the right to archive, preserve, distribute, and provide access to published articles for academic, educational, and other non-commercial purposes in accordance with the terms and conditions of the CC BY-NC license.