Current status and prospect of entomopathogenic fungi for controlling insect and mite pests in tea plantations

Tea, Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze, is the most popular non-alcohol beverage and has over a thousand years of cultivation history. Sustainable tea cultivation is hampered by insect and mite pests and heavily relies on conventional pesticides. However, such management strategies can cause environmental pollution and insect resistance. Well-planted tea ecosystem naturally provides a suitable micro-climatic condition for the prosperity of natural enemies, especially entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) that are susceptible to moisture, temperature and sunlight. Hence, EPF have been widely used in tea plantations for pest management. Here, we summarized the approaches of research pertaining to EPF diversity in ecosystems. We also describe the general infection process and discuss the environmental factors that impact EPF efficiency. Finally, we listed the successful cases of EPF in tea pest management. Overall, this review has provided the application status and biological potential of EPF, which will contribute to agricultural productivity, and ecological, economic and social sustainability in the tea ecosystem.