Beyond Virulence: A Multi-Trait Development Framework for Advancing Entomopathogenic Fungi into Mycoinsecticides

Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are promising microbial control agents, but high laboratory virulence alone does not ensure successful development into reliable mycoinsecticides. This review proposes a sequential multi-trait framework organized around three stages: biological candidate qualification, product qualification, and translational qualification. Biological qualification evaluates target-specific pathogenicity, host-pathogen ecological fit, abiotic stress tolerance, and trait stability. Product qualification assesses whether a candidate can be manufactured reproducibly as viable and infective propagules, formulated, dried, stored, and delivered without unacceptable loss of performance. Translational qualification tests whether the formulated product provides consistent pest suppression under relevant greenhouse, semi-field, and field conditions and fits the intended deployment scenario. The framework distinguishes intrinsic strain traits from process-shaped product traits and treats the strain-propagule-process combination as the relevant product-stage unit. It also separates development-limiting weaknesses from limitations that may be mitigated through production, formulation, or deployment technologies, supporting decisions to advance, redirect, or discontinue candidates. This framework provides a practical basis for linking laboratory screening with manufacturability and field performance and for identifying traits that merit prospective validation as predictors of successful mycoinsecticide development.