摘要：Endophytic fungus is a fungus that is associated with healthy host tissues without causingdisease symptoms. Th i s f u n g u s can be developed as the biological control agent ofchilli pests. This study i s aimed a t isolating, selecting and evaluating the potency ofendophytic fungi from chilli crops (Capsicum annuum L.) as bioinsecticides. Endophyticfungi were isolated from leaves, trunk, branches and roots of chilli. Screening endophyticfungal isolates pathogenic to insect were conducted using fifth instar larvae of Tenebriomolitor. The isolates with the highest mortality were further assayed against Spodopteralitura larvae. The results of the research showed that of the 46 isolates of endophyticfungi that were successfully isolated from chilli, 22 isolates were pathogenic (47.82%)and 24 isolates not pathogenic in insects. Mortality of T. molitor larvae ranged from 15-30% and the percentage of sporulation ranged from 11.11- 100%. Endophytic fungi werealso able to infect S. litura larvae. Mortality of second instar S. litura larvae ranged from23.34-64.99%, depending up on the conidial concentrations. Endophytic fungi from chilliwere pathogenic in insect and can be developed as bioinsecticides identified asAspergillus flavus.
