Mass Multiplication, Production Cost Analysis, and Marketing of Metarhizium

For plant protection against several insects, biopesticides based on bacteria, viruses, entomopathogenic fungi, and nematodes play a significant role in the regulation of insect population in nature. In this regard, during the last few decades, the use of entomopathogenic fungi as biocontrol agents has received global attention, and the mass production of entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae, is an area of growing interest. It is a fungus that infects insects, particularly, beetle larvae. Generally, M. anisopliae is highly virulent, has a broad host range among insects, has transcuticular penetration, and is considered safe to plants, animals, and humans, as well as to the environment. Hence, it can be used commercially for biological control. In several countries, including Australia, USA, New Zealand, Switzerland, and to some extent in Italy, M. anisopliae is used as mycoinsecticides for soil insect control under different names. Mass production of M. anisopliae is generally carried out in two forms, either as blastospores in liquid media (submerged culture) or as conidia on solid media (surface culture). Solid state fermentation is considered to be a more appropriate technology as it can be easily carried out and the raw materials are available at a lower rate. Moreover, spores produced as living propagules were stable in terms of dry formulations and more tolerant to desiccation. Considering the production cost, benefit cost ratio, and marketing aspect of M. anisopliae as the basis of entrepreneurship, this book chapter is designed to involve mass cultivation of the entomopathogenic fungi M. anisopliae on locally and easily available agricultural and industrial substrates thereby decreasing the production cost and the benefit cost ratio to trigger the commercialization of M. anisopliae.