Distribution and occurrence of four entomopathogenic fungi in Finland: Effect of geographical location, habitat type and soil type
Vanninen, I.
Mycological Research 100(1): 93-101
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0953-7562
DOI: 10.1016/s0953-7562(96)80106-7
Accession: 008489127
The occurrence of Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Paecilomyces farinosus and P. fumosoroseus in natural and agricultural soils of Finland was studied with the insect bait method on 590 soil samples taken in 5 yr. B. bassiana was isolated from 19.8%, M. anisopliae from 15.6 %, P. farinosus from 9.2 % and P. fumosoroseus from I% of the samples. The relative importance of geographical location, habitat type and soil type to the occurrence of the fungi was analysed with stepwise logistic regression. Geographical location was the strongest factor determining the occurrence of M. anisopliae, a southern species in Finland. B. bassiana and P. farinosus were adversely affected by cultivation, but M. anisopliae was not. P. farinosus occurred throughout Finland, whereas B. bassiana became more common northwards. Soil type did not affect the occurrence of any of the species. P. fumosoroseus occurred only in southernmost Finland, and was never isolated from intensely cultivated soils. The differing distributional patterns of the fungi are discussed with respect to the temperature requirements of the species and their modes of long-term survival in soil.