The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae B is a powerful biological control agent against Monochamusalternatus, a crucial mediator of the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. In this study, production of destruxins(dtxs), insecticidal cyclic hexadepsipeptides, was monitored in the submerged culture of M. anisopliae B. Three typesof dtxs, i.e., destruxin A, B, and E, were produced during the culture. Among the three dtxs, the production yield ofdestruxin A was best, followed by destruxin B and E. Destruxin A production was increased when pH was controlledat 6.0, whereas production of destruxin E was not affected by the pH control. The highest yield of dtxs A, B, and Ewere 16.4, 7.3, and 6.1 mg L-1, respectively. Considering that process for dtxs production has not been optimized, M.anisopliae B has more powerful implication as a biocontrol agent.

The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is one of potent biological control agents against a variety ofinsect pests. In this study, we investigated enzyme production of M. anisopliae strains A and B. They produced extracellularenzymes for degrading the epidermis of Monochamus alternatus, a crucial mediator of the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchusxylophilus. With Q-TOF MS/MS analysis, 29 kDa protein, a major band on a SDS-PAGE gel, was identified as subtilisin-likeserine protease PR1A. M. anisopliae A produced an extracellular enzyme more efficiently than M. anisopliae B: however,enzyme activities targeted for the cuticle were comparable. Our results suggest that the two strains of M. anisopliae havethe biological potential against M. alternatus with insecticidal protease production.

Globally, there is an increase in demand for organic products which has boosted the organic food industry. There has been a continuous incease in th organic agricultural land due to the aforementioned reaseons which has been in fluencing the use of chemical-free pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs for cultivation. Also, the increasing per-capita expenditure income and high purchasing power of consumers in developing countries such as India, Brazil, South Africa, Korea, Japan, and China have forced the manufactures to offer a wide range of organic products to sustain competition. Agricultural biologicals are a group of products which are derived from natural sources such as microorganisms, plant extracts. or other biological matter, which can be used as a substitute for agriculture chemical products. Farmers can depend on these agricultural biologicals along with the biotechnology and variety of agronomic practices, in order to grow healthy and nutritious crops.

Oxalic acid has a nematicidal activity against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. High producer of oxalic acid was isolated, and then named as Aspergillus niger F22. Oxalic acid production was investigated under various temperatures from 20 – 33oC and rotational speeds in 5 L jar fermenters. Yield of oxalic acid increased with decreasing temperature. The highest yield was obtained at 23oC, showing the yield of oxalic acid of 8.7 g/L, whereas oxalic acid production was least at 33oC. At 20oC, the yield was lower than that of 23oC. At a rotational speed of 300 rpm, serious oxygen depletion was present from 48 - 72 h, resulting in low productivity of 26.2 mg /L·h. When a rotational speed was set at 600 rpm, dissolved oxygen tension was over 40% and oxalic acid production increased up to approximately 55%. Viscosity during the culture differed with temperatures. Viscosity increased with the increment of temperatures. When A. niger F22 was cultured at 23oC, viscosity was 810 cP, which was favorable for oxalic acid production.

Effectiveness of Beauveria bassiana ERL as entomopathogenic fungi against thrips pupae were evaluated on greenhouse cucumber(bumnong backdadagi), rose(Affinity) respectively. Control efficacy was calculated by the formula, (Dcontrol - Dtreatment)/Dcontrol x 100, where Dcontrol is the average density of thrips on the plots in which any pesticides and entomopathogenic fungi was not relesed and Dtreatment is the average density of thrips on the plots in which entomopathogenic fungi were released respectively. As a result, control efficacies of Beauveria bassiana ERL 10^7 cfu/g treatment against thrips on cucumber was 89.4~91.3%, respectively. In addition, control efficacy of Beauveria bassiana ERL 10^8 treatment against thrips on cucumber was 92.0~93.2%. Also, control efficacies of Beauveria bassiana ERL treatment against thrips on cucumber was 61.5-69.2%. Thus, even thrips control flow that occurs in the solanaceae vegetables thrips current period is officially Beauveria bassiana ERL 10 ^ 7 to effective treatment cfu / g, pepper and tomato cucumber and rose to occur will be effective. These results demonstrate the promise of entomopathogenic fungi, especially Beauveria bassiana ERL for management of thrips pupae. In addition to thrips control that is occurring in the solanaceae vegetables such as peppers and tomatoes will be effective.

Microorganism such as a bacterium, virus, fungus, or microscopic nematode worms can be used in agricultural practices to control of elimate pests that can inflict damage to a plant. Agents used as biopesticides include parasites, predators, fungi, bacteria and viruses. Each agent has a specific mode of operation used to control pests. They are being recommended and used as components of IPM programs in the production of high-value specialty crops such as fruit, nut, vegetable, vine, ornamental, and turf crops. The global pesticide market was valued in 2013 at approximately $54.2 billion. Of that total, nearly 30% is comprised of herbicides to control weed populations. This segment of the market is projected to expand through 2014 for both synthetic pesticides and biopesticides. The projected market percentage should reach nearly 6% by 2014. Biological control agents are termed as ‘Biological Pesticides’ by the Korean government. At present there are 33 registered products in Korea under this category, among these 19 are fungicidal, 13 are insecticidal and only 1 have herbicidal activity. The total number of domestically produced biological pesticides is 19 including Bts whereas rest of them are imported. Mostly these are originated from microorganisms. Organic agriculture materials are 1,300 registered products in Korea. Approximately 500 companies have registered your product is a very small company and the parent company, except for the more than 20 companies.

The most industry players were still building a case for biopesticides as an important sector of the crop protection industry, most bigger players were making guarded statements about their intentions in the sector, and the headline proclaimed that biopesticides were no longer a fringe sector. Within months, the larger companies started getting seriously involved through acquisitions and licensing deals. The second special issue that came out in 2013 gauged the momentum that the sector quickly achieved and it was becoming clear that biopesticides would figure in the plans of most of the big crop protection companies. The momentum that started in 2012 was sustained throughout 2013 and the first four months of 2014 in the forms of deals as well as acquisitions. The Europe-based majors consolidated the acquisitions made during the previous year and went about submitting registration dossiers for the acquired products and formulating business plans incorporating biopesticides into their overall strategy. In 2013, big US-based companies became active. Monsanto acquired US agricultural biotechnology company, Agradis, which has a collection of thousands of plant-associated microorganisms; formed a partnership with Danish company Novozymes to develop and commercialise biopesticides worldwide; and supported the establishment of a US company, Preceres, aimed at the development of delivery methods for RNAi-based biopesticides. The global companies believe that biologicals will provide new growth opportunities in agriculture and are looking at market opportunities in all crops and the needs of its crop protection business.

Entomopathogenic fungi formulated as wettable powders and suspension concentrates have been sprayed to crop pests for pest management. However, the use of fungal granules to control paddy field pests has not been fully explored. Herein, several Beauveria bassiana isolates (ERL 1170, 1578 and 836) were produced as granules using a millet-based solid culture. The granules were applied to the rice nursery 3 days before transplanting and their control efficacy against rice water weevils was determined in paddy fields. The solid cultures produced ~1×108conidiag-1ofmilletgrains10daysaftertheinoculation. The granules were applied to the soil in the rice nursery 3 days before the rice seedlings were transplanted in the paddy fields. Rice in plots with granules of ERL1578 had 17.3% leaf damage (74% control efficacy) 14 days post application, whereas rice plants in the non-treated control had 66.5% damage. Rice plants treated in the nursery with ERL1170 and ERL836 had 52~54% damage. In the rice plots previously treated with ERL1578 the smallest numbers of larvae and adults were observed 38 days post application. In laboratory conditions, ERL1578-treated larvae were tuned pink and covered with mycelial mass. Applications of millet-based B. bassiana granules on rice nursery soil can be an effective and efficient biological control strategy for the management of rice water weevils. This method is relatively inexpensive and requires less labor compared to practices involving the spraying of fungi directly on rice in paddy fields.