Pathogenicity, Ovicidal Action, and Median Lethal Concentrations (LC 50 ) of Entomopathogenic Fungi against Exotic Spiralling Whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus Russell.
Biological control using entomopathogenic fungi could be a promising alternative to chemical control. Entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin, Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmerm.) Zare and Gams, and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown and Smith, were tested for their pathogenicity, ovicidal effect, and median lethal concentrations (LC50) against exotic spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus dispersus Russell. The applications were made at the rate of 2 × 10(9) conidia mL(-1) for evaluating the pathogenicity and ovicidal effect of entomopathogenic fungi against A. dispersus. The results of pathogenicity test showed that P. fumosoroseus (P1 strain) was highly pathogenic to A. dispersus recording 100% mortality at 15 days after treatment (DAT). M. anisopliae (M2 strain) had more ovicidal effect causing 37.3% egg mortality at 8 DAT. However, L. lecanii (L1 strain) caused minimum egg hatchability (23.2%) at 10 DAT as compared to control (92.6%). The lowest LC50 produced by P. fumosoroseus (P1 strain) as 8.189 × 10(7) conidia mL(-1) indicated higher virulence against A. dispersus. Hence, there is potential for use of entomopathogenic fungi in the field conditions as an alternate control method in combating the insect pests and other arthropod pests since they are considered natural mortality agents and are environmentally safe.
Division of Agricultural Entomology, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Mizoram Centre, Kolasib, Mizoram 796081, India.
Boopathi
B
Thangavel
Department of Agricultural Entomology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641 003, India.
Karuppuchamy
K
Palaniappan
Department of Agricultural Entomology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641 003, India.
Kalyanasundaram
K
Manickavasagam Pillai
Department of Plant Biotechnology, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641 003, India.
Mohankumar
M
Subbarayalu
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Sirugamani, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu 641115, India.
Ravi
R
Madhaiyan