Wireworms, the larvae of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), can cause substantial losses in marketable yield of potatoes, yet control options are limited. The entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum (Ascomycota; Hypocreales) isolate ART2825 is highly virulent against two of the most detrimental wireworm species, Agriotes obscurus L. and A. lineatus L., but field application of this isolate during potato cultivation has never succeeded. In this study, we integrated the fungus into the agricultural crop rotation prior to potato cultivation, with the aim of better adapting the application strategy to the fungus’ ecological and environmental requirements. Application preceded sowing of cover crops in late summer. We hypothesized that higher temperatures and undisturbed development for several months would support the establishment of the entomopathogen and enhance biocontrol efficiency in the following season. In two subsequent seasons, we quantified (1) fungal establishment in the soil, (2) efficiency of treated soils against wireworms in vitro, and (3) levels of wireworm damage in field potatoes. Spore concentration was enhanced in treated plots and we recovered the released Metarhizium isolate from all mycosed, field-collected wireworms. Treated soils increased wireworm mortality in the laboratory, but a statistically significant reduction of potato damage was only achieved in two out of ten field trials. The application strategy shows potential for fungal enhancement and opens new avenues for biological wireworm control.

线虫是点击甲虫（鞘翅目：Elateridae）的幼虫，可导致马铃薯可销售产量的重大损失，但控制选择有限。昆虫病原真菌绿僵菌（子囊菌门；Hypocreales）分离株 ART2825 对两种最有害的线虫物种Agriotes obscurus L具有高度毒性。和A. lineatus L 。，但这种分离株在马铃薯栽培过程中的田间应用从未成功。在这项研究中，我们在马铃薯种植之前将真菌整合到农作物轮作中，目的是使应用策略更好地适应真菌的生态和环境要求。在夏末播种覆盖作物之前施用。我们假设几个月内较高的温​​度和不受干扰的发育将支持昆虫病原体的建立并提高下一个季节的生物防治效率。在随后的两个季节中，我们量化了 (1) 土壤中真菌的建立，(2) 处理过的土壤在体外对抗线虫的效率，以及 (3) 田间马铃薯中线虫的损害水平。在处理过的地块中孢子浓度增加，我们回收了释放的绿僵菌从所有真菌感染的、现场采集的线虫中分离出来。处理过的土壤在实验室中增加了线虫死亡率，但只有十分之二的田间试验实现了马铃薯损害的统计学显着减少。该应用策略显示出增强真菌的潜力，并为生物线虫控制开辟了新途径。