Screening of Metarhizium anisopliae UV-induced mutants for faster growth yields a hyper-virulent isolate with greater UV and thermal tolerances.

The insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is an important insect biological control agent commercialized for use worldwide. Fungal infection is percutaneous, and rapid germination and growth has been linked to virulence. Using a simple in vitro growth screen to isolate mutants with increased virulence, M.