OCCURRENCE OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC AND OTHER OPPORTUNISTIC FUNGI IN SOIL COLLECTED FROM INSECT HIBERNATION SITES AND EVALUATION OF THEIR ENTOMOPATHOGENIC POTENTIAL

A survey of entomopathogenic and other opportunistic fungi isolated from soil samples collected from insect hibernation sites in different habitats in Kurdistan region of Iraq was carried out during October to December 2009. By using dilution plate method, two entomopathogenic species (Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill.and Isaria javanica (Friedrichs & Bally) Samson & Hywel-Jones) were detected with isolation percentage (38.46%) each. Other opportunistic fungi such as Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, A.niger, Penicillium glabrum, P. digitatum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Syncephalastratum racemosum were also isolated. B. bassiana was the most virulent fungus and showed complete mortality (100%) on two aphid species Hyalopterus pruni Geoff. and Aphis pomi De Greer after six days of inoculation, followed by I.javanica with 66.67% and 75.59% mortality respectively. I. javanica was isolated for the first time from Iraq. A brief description along with photographs is provided for the newly recorded species. Key words: Entomopathogenic fungi, Soil, Iraq.