Pleosporales (entomopathogens)

Dothideomycetes • Ascomycota • entomopath. fungi • Diseases of pests • Beneficials

chain of conidia of a species of Alternaria (click on image to enlarge it)
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Pleosporales (entomopathogens)

This order contains more than 150 genera and includes various serious plant pathogens like early blight of potatoes. However, some forms and strains also have entomopathogenic properties and have been studied as possible biological control agents of insect pests. This page deals with the latter group. The fruiting bodies (ascomata) are usually spherical with a perithecia-like opening. The asci are bitunicate and the ascospores mostly septate.

For a review see Zhang et al., 2012.

This page deals only with species causing diseases of insect pests, for other groups see:

• Pleosporales (plant pathogens)
• Pleosporales (antagonists)
• Pleosporales (weed pathogens)

The following genera of entomopathogens are currently entered in the system:

• Alternaria (anamorphic genus - entomopathogens)