A recent study published in Cereal Research Communications has identified four entomopathogenic fungi naturally associated with cereal leaf beetles (CLB), one of Europe’s most damaging pests of barley and other small-grain cereals. As chemical pesticide regulations tighten across the EU, researchers are exploring sustainable alternatives such as insect-pathogenic fungi to support environmentally sound pest management.
The research team collected 3536 adult cereal leaf beetles from barley fields in southwestern Slovakia. From these field samples, they isolated 58 fungal strains, revealing a dominance of Beauveria pseudobassiana (58.6%) and Beauveria bassiana (34.5%). Less frequent but notable were Isaria fumosorosea (5.2%) and Metarhizium pemphigi (1.7%).
To understand their biocontrol potential, the team conducted laboratory bioassays comparing the pathogenicity of these isolates against adult beetles. All fungal isolates caused infection, but their virulence varied significantly. The highest mortality and lowest lethal concentration (LC₅₀ = 0.72 × 10⁶ spores/ml) were observed in Metarhizium pemphigi, followed closely by the most aggressive Beauveria bassiana strains.
Despite its strong laboratory performance, M. pemphigi appeared rarely in field samples, suggesting possible ecological specialization rather than poor pathogenicity. Meanwhile, the two Beauveria species dominated field infections, indicating better adaptability and ecological presence in cereal agroecosystems.
The study concludes that while both B. bassiana and M. pemphigi show strong potential as biological control agents, real-world effectiveness will require overcoming challenges related to environmental persistence and field establishment. Integrating ecological data with laboratory virulence testing will be crucial for selecting the best fungal candidates for biological control programs.
This research contributes important new insights into host–fungus interactions and supports the development of more sustainable and environmentally friendly pest management strategies for cereal crops.
Reference
Barta, M., Takov, D. & Pilarska, D. Entomopathogenic fungi associated with cereal leaf beetles and their comparative pathogenicity in the laboratory: possible sustainable control approaches. CEREAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-025-00726-4
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