Research advance on Esteya vermicola, a high potential biocontrol agent of pine wilt disease

The potential of Esteya vermicola (Ophiostomataceae), an endoparasitic fungus of pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Nematoda: Aphelenchoidoidea), as a biocontrol agent of pine wilt disease has been proved. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to this fungus with the deterioration and scatter of pine wilt disease around the world. Many novel researches in this field have been reported in recent years. This review systematically summarizes the latest studies of E. vermicola in respect to its ecology and distribution, characteristics, infectivity against nematodes, nutrition and sporulation, environmental stress resistance, as well as control effect against pine wilt disease, etc. Moreover, its application potential to the biocontrol of pine wilt disease and possible research directions in the future are briefly discussed. This is the first review on this little-known hyphomycete, hoping to lead to its efficient use for the biocontrol of disastrous pine wilt disease.