# The Effect of Exposure to an Electromagnetic Field on Entomopathogenic Fungi
## 4 Discussion
They are involved in creating wall architecture, as well as the transportation of nutrients to the hyphal tip, which can be important for hyphal growth [52; 53]. An important feature of EPFs is their ability to produce spores [38]. Sporulation depends on the fungal species, nutrient availability, and environmental factors like temperature or the presence of toxins or pesticides [54; 55]. The sporulation of the entomopathogenic fungus _B. bassiana_ was significantly inhibited by the 1800 MHz electromagnetic field. The inhibiting effect of EMFs on fungus sporulation has been confirmed by other authors [46]. Exposure to a static magnetic field (0.3 \(\pm\) 0.03 T sMF) inhibited not only the colony growth of _Fusarium culmorum_, but also conidia formation [46], whereas [PERSON] et al. [56] reported that low-frequency electromagnetic fields stimulated the growth and sporulation of _Triboderma asperelloides_. Similar results were obtained in the present study, as exposure to a 900 MHz EMF stimulated the sporulation of EPFs. The high sporulation of EPFs under in vitro conditions is advantageous for the mass production of these fungi. An important aspect of mycosinecticle quality is the concentration of propagules and their viability [38; 39; 57], which can be affected by many factors [38; 58; 59]. EMFs are one abiotic factor that can significantly affect fungus sporulation [46; 48]. [PERSON] et al. [46] observed that exposure to a static magnetic field inhibited the germination of _Fusarium culmorum_ conidia. In the present experiment, both lower and higher EMF frequencies were observed to have an inhibitory effect on the spore germination of _B. bassiana_. The spore germination of _C. funosorosea_ was inhibited only by the 1800 MHz EMF. The germination of _M. anisopliae_ spores was affected by the EMF to a small extent only at the lower frequency. The proportion of fast-germinating conidia is an important factor in predicting the potential efficacy of EPF products [39]. The inhibiting effect of an EMF on spore germination observed in the present experiment appears to be small and dependent on the species but should be taken into account in attempts to use an EMF to stimulate EPF activity. The germination of conidia and the formation of germ tubes is an important stage in the process of host infection [60; 61]. Slow formation and growth of the germ tubes may adversely affect this process [46]. Exposure to the 900 MHz EMF either did not affect the growth of germ tubes (_B. bassiana_ and _C. fumosorosea_) or significantly stimulated it (_M. anisopliae_). Inhibition of the hyphae development of _B. bassiana_ and _M. anisopliae_ was observed under exposure to the 1800 MHZ electromagnetic field. [PERSON] et al. [62] also observed a static magnetic field to have a significant inhibition effect on _Candida albicans_' hyphal length. However, in the present study, we observed the EMF to have a subsequent effect. The spores germinated and grew without direct exposure to a 900 or 1800 MHz EMF. This means that the effect of exposure to an EMF lasts longer and can affect fungi in further stages of their development. The pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi depends on many factors, including biotic (strain and host) and abiotic ones (pollutants, weather, and soil conditions) [63; 64; 65]. [PERSON] et al. [32] concluded that, directly applied, a static magnetic field stimulates the pathogenicity of EPFs against _T. molitor_ larvae. In their experiment [32], a static magnetic field was applied on two-week-old sporulating mycelium. The pathogenicity of _C. fumosorosea_ and _M. anisopliae_ was not significantly affected by exposure to a 1800 MHz EMF. However, a 900 MHz electromagnetic field was observed to have a stimulating effect on _C. fumosorosea_'s pathogenicity against the test insects. It is important that in the present experiment, only the subsequent effect of the electromagnetic field was studied--s spores that were produced under exposure to an electromagnetic field were used to prepare a water suspension.