Function of transcription factor Mavib-1 in entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium acridum

Conidium is the main infection unit and reproductive unit of pathogenic fungi. The conidial yield, time to enter a stable conidiation period, and the proportion of mycelia in conidial product are restrictive conditions for large-scale production. Most fungi have two types of conidiation: normal conidiation (NC) and microcycle conidiation (MC). Normally, conidiophores arise from the vegetative mycelia and produce large amounts of conidia. In microcycle conidiation, the fungi can bypass the mycelia period, and develop secondary conidia on conidiophores produced from germ tubes or directly from conidial cells. Conidia from MC have more advantages than normal conidiation in terms of large-scale production and application, such as faster conidiation and more conidial yield. Therefore, clarification of the conidiation mechanisms of entomopathogenic fungi has important practical significance for the large-scale production of fungal insecticides in the future. This study mainly focused on the function of the transcription factor Mavib-1.