Rediscovering Fungal Biocontrol Agents in Forestry for Sustainable Pest Management in the North of Argentina

Abstract

Forestry in Argentina, particularly in regions dominated by Eucalyptus and Pinus plantations, faces significant challenges in pest management. While bacterial biocontrol agents like Bacillus have been traditionally used, not all pest management needs can be met by these microbes. This highlights the potential for fungal biocontrol agents in forestry pest management. The north of Argentina harbors hotspots of rich biodiversity remnants, making it a promising location to search for potential fungal biocontrol agents. However, there is currently a lack of information regarding the isolation and characterization of fungi with biocontrol capacities in this region.This work aims to address this gap by exploring the use of new, poorly studied, and alternative fungi for biocontrol purposes. Fungi such as Clonostachys, Paecilomyces, and Escovopsis have shown promising biocontrol capabilities against pests in other regions and could be valuable additions to the pest management strategies in the forestry of Argentina.The manuscript discusses the importance of diversifying biocontrol strategies beyond Trichoderma and entomopathogenic fungi. It emphasizes the need for further research and exploration of fungal biodiversity in the region to identify novel biocontrol agents. The findings presented here contribute to the broader scope of forestry, pest management, and biodiversity management, providing valuable insights for sustainable pest management practices for countries with extensive forestry plantations like Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile.