Natural Occurrence of Entomopathogenic Fungi as Endophytes of Sugarcane () and in Soil of Sugarcane Fields.

The natural occurrence of entomopathogenic fungal endophytes in sugarcane () and in soil samples from sugarcane fields was evaluated in Chikwawa District, southern Malawi. Fungi from soil were isolated by baiting using larva. Fungal endophytes were isolated from surface-sterilized plant tissue sections. Forty-seven isolates resembled the genus , 9 isolates were , and 20 isolates were . There was no significant difference in the number and type of fungal isolates collected from soil and from plant tissue. There was, however, a significant difference in the part of the plant where fungal species were isolated, which fungal species were isolated, and the number of fungal species isolated at each location. Phylogenetic analysis of 47 isolates based on DNA sequencing of the Bloc intergenic region indicated that these isolates all belonged to and aligned with sequences of isolates of African and Neotropical origin. The Malawian isolates formed a distinct clade. No larvae died from infestation by multiple fungi. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of and spp. occurring naturally as endophytes in sugarcane. Further, it is the first report of , spp., and spp. in the soil of sugarcane fields in Africa.