The occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in soils from fields cultivated in a conventional and organic system

The occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi, involved in regulating the population of insects preying on arable crops, depends on numerous factors, such as using crop protection chemicals, which are prohibited in the organic tillage system. Using two methods: selective medium and the Galleria mellonella bait method, the species composition and the occurrence of entomopathogenic fungi in soils deriving from organic and conventional fields sown with winter cereals were compared. Four en-tomopathogenic fungal species were identified in the samples: Beauveria bassiana, Isaria fumosorosea, Metarhizium anisopliae and Lecanicillium sp.. M. anisopliae was the most frequently detected one. M. anisopliae and B. bassiana formed more colony forming units in soils from organic fields, whereas I. fumosorosea in soils from the conventional ones.