Home • Metarhizium robertsii ARSEF 23
Photo of Metarhizium robertsii ARSEF 23
Image Credit: Chengshu Wang and Yuxian Xia
via Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.5

The genome sequence and gene models of Metarhizium robertsii have not been determined by the JGI, but were downloaded from NCBI on Oct 25, 2016. In order to allow comparative analyses with other fungal genomes sequenced by the Joint Genome Institute, a copy of this genome is incorporated into Mycocosm. Please note that this copy of the genome is not maintained by NCBI and is therefore not automatically updated.

Metarhizium robertsii is an insect pathogenic fungus that has a broad host range by killing hundreds of insect species. The fungus has been developed and applied as a promising insect biological control agent against different insect pests. The sexual stage of Metarhizium spp. is recognized as Metacordyceps spp. but the fungus is largely clonally reproduced in the field. The haploid of M. robertsii contains a single mating-type locus and the fungus is thereby sexually heterothallic. The fungus infects insects by producing appressoria to penetrate insect cuticles and then colonize insect hemocoels. It has been recently evident that the fungus can also colonize plant roots where it may simultaneously act as a biofertilizer and biopesticide to boost plant growth. The fungus is also a prolific producer of diverse secondary metabolites with activities against insects, fungi, bacteria and cancer cells. Metarhizium robertsii is not randomly distributed in soils but preferentially associates with the plant rhizosphere when applied in agricultural settings.

Genome Reference(s)