Metarhizium rileyi with broad‐spectrum insecticidal ability confers resistance against phytopathogens and insect pests as a phytoendophyte

Abstract BACKGROUND Entomophagous fungi (EPF) not only directly kill insect pests, but also colonize plants and improve their resistance against pests. However, most previous research has focused on Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae , and there are few reports on whether other EPF can enhance resistance against pests via endogenous colonization. Herein, an EPF strain was isolated from diseased larvae of Spodoptera litura in a soybean field, and subjected to genome‐wide sequencing at the chromosomal level. The pathogenicity of the isolate toward various pest insects was evaluated, and the ability to colonize plants and induce resistance against phytopathogens and insect pests was tested. RESULTS The purified isolate was identified as M. rileyi and designated MrS1Gz1–1. Biological assays revealed its strong pathogenicity toward five insect pests belonging to Lepidoptera and Hemiptera. Furthermore, the strain inhibited the growth of soil‐borne plant disease caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in vitro . It colonized plants as an endophyte via soil application, thereby inducing plant resistance‐related genes against phytopathogen infection, and it disrupted the feeding selectivity of S. litura larvae. CONCLUSION M. rileyi MrS1Gz1–1 has potential as a broad‐spectrum microbial control agent that can induce resistance against phytopathogens and insect pests feeding as an endotype. The complete genome provides a valuable resource for exploring host interactions. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.