Testing Virulence of Different Species of Insect Associated Fungi against Yellow Mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Their Potential Growth Stimulation to Maize.

This paper investigates 71 isolates of two genera of entomopathogens, and , and a biostimulative genus , for their ability to infect yellow mealworms () and to stimulate maize () growth. Fungal origin, host, and isolation methods were taken into account in virulence analysis as well. Isolates (1154) and (2121) showed the highest mortality (100%) against . High virulence seems to be associated with fungi isolated from wild adult mycosed insects, meadow habitats, and Lepidopteran hosts, but due to uneven sample distribution, we cannot draw firm conclusions. (2882) and (2883) increased shoot length, three isolates (2691, 2693, and 2688) increased root length and two isolates (2146 and 2794) increased plant dry weight. Considering both criteria, the isolate (2693) was the best as it caused the death of 73% larvae and also significantly increased maize root length by 24.4%. The results warrant further studies with this isolate in a tri-trophic system.