Pathogenicity of Local Isolates of Entomopathogenic Fungi.

Termites have an economic role in economic entomology with the cost of damage to the crops and buildings in most of the countries of South America, Africa and Asia, amounting to millions of pounds. Damage to crops and buildings by termite can, in some countries exceed that caused by natural disasters and fires in single year.Extensive use of chemicals can cause environmental hazards and induce resistance. Biological control with pathogenic fungi might provide long-lasting insect control without damage to the environment or non-target organisms. The biocontrol potentiality of this fungus has been exploited, making use of the local isolates collected from either soil or from dead insect hosts prevailing in different geographic areas. The ultimate objective of the study is to select a virulent isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae for deployment in the development of eco-friendly bioinsecticide for termite control.The present project was carried out to evaluate the different isolates from the soil of different (Murree, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Jhang and Layyah) district of Pakistan and then relative pathogenic effect of these isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae on the termites Coptotermes.

Dr. Muhammad Rizwan Ashraf, Ph.D. Assistant professor Department of Environmental Sciences COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Pakistan.