@article {10.3844/ajabssp.2009.152.155,
article_type = {journal},
title = {A Quick Method for Metarhizium anisopliae Isolation from Cultural Soils},
author = {Tajick Ghanbary, M. A. and Asgharzadeh, A. and Hadizadeh, A. R. and Mohammadi Sharif, M.},
volume = {4},
year = {2009},
month = {Jun},
pages = {152-155},
doi = {10.3844/ajabssp.2009.152.155},
url = {https://thescipub.com/abstract/ajabssp.2009.152.155},
abstract = {Problem statement: Fungi are one of the most active members in 
biological community of cultural soils. Many saprophyte and facultative parasitic 
fungi live in soil. Metarhizium anisopliae, one of the most famous soil inhabitant 
entomopathogens has a virulence potential on plant and animal pests. Approach: 
Introducing a new method for its isolation from soil was an applied method to 
find it without any limitation. Metarhizium anisopliae shifts to saprophytic phase 
and remain alive within soil in absence of susceptible host. As a shortcut, we 
can transfer the fungus from soil to lab by culturing soil suspension. One hundred 
cultural soil samples from different regions of Iran were tested to finding Metarhizium 
isolates. Culturing 1:5000-1:10000 soil suspension on artificial medium containing 
necessary macro and micronutrients for fungal growth were resulted in isolation. 
Metarhizium anisopliae isolates were harvested seven days after culturing the 
suspensions. All isolates were inoculated in 50 mL PDB in destruxin production 
assay and 7 days later broth medium was filtrated by using filter paper. Culture 
filtrates were extracted and in bioassays they were sprayed on larva of citrus 
leaf miner. Results: Nine isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae 
were harvested. Microscopic studies showed that morphological features had complete 
coincidence with valid descriptions of the fungus. Bioassay confirmed that all 
harvested isolates secrete active and effective destruxin in broth. Conclusion: 
Isolation of Metarhizium by culturing the soil suspension, a useful method for 
more studies of the entomopathogen at different geographical regions. Native populations 
of this fungus had special importance in local biological control programs. This 
procedure was a costs- and time-effective method for pathogen isolation.},
journal = {American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences},
publisher = {Science Publications}
}