Scope of Entomopathogenic Fungi in the Mustard Ecosystem: A Review

Mustard (Brassica juncea) is a versatile and widely cultivated plant in the Brassicaceae family. Among the primary factors impeding mustard yield, insect pest damage stands prominent. Insect pests such as mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi), mustard sawfly (Athalia lugens proxima), painted bug (Bagrada hilaris), diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and cabbage butterfly (Pieris brassicae) cause significant damage to mustard production. The excessive reliance on chemical insecticides to control these insect pests may negatively affect non-target organisms such as beneficial insects, pollinators and natural enemies of pests, thus disrupting ecosystem balance and posing risks to biodiversity. In pursuit of sustainable alternatives to broad-spectrum chemical pesticides, entomopathogens play a pivotal role in safer pest management strategies. These biological control agents, including various fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes, specifically target insect pests while being safer for non-target organisms and the environment. With more widespread commercialization, entomopathogenic fungi hold significant promise in bolstering integrated pest management practices.