Paecilomyces: An Eco-Friendly Approach to Control Agricultural Pests and Pathogens

Addressing agricultural pests and pathogens in an eco-friendly manner is a major aspect of sustainable development goals. The escalating resistance of pests and pathogens to chemical pesticides, coupled with their detrimental environmental impact, poses a significant concern within the scientific community. There is an urgent need for further research into the development of effective biocontrol agents tailored to the present-day challenges facing soil and surrounding ecosystems. Paecilomyces demonstrates considerable promise in offering eco-friendly solutions for controlling pathogenic bacteria, fungi, insect pests, and nematodes, while simultaneously enhancing the quality and yield of agricultural produce. This fungus produces a diverse array of secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, polyketides, peptides, terpenoids, steroids, fatty acids, and enzymes, which exhibit broad-spectrum activities including antimicrobial, insecticidal, nematicidal, and cytotoxic properties, effectively curbing pathogen growth. The entomopathogenic characteristics of Paecilomyces render it particularly effective against specific insect pests and nematodes. Its mechanisms of pest and pathogen control, including parasitism, antibiosis, and competitive exclusion, enhance its efficacy as a biocontrol agent. Moreover, its production of phytohormones contributes to its soil conditioning properties. In this chapter, we explore the role of Paecilomyces as a potential biocontrol agent in thwarting the proliferation of agricultural adversaries in an environmentally sustainable manner.