Field evaluation of entomopathogenic fungi against cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) and their effect on coccinellid predator, Coccinella septempunctata (Linnaeus) (Article chronicle: Received: 29-06.2017; Revised: 09-09-2017; Accepted: 22-09-2017) ABSTRACT: The present study was carried out to assess the field efficacy of three isolates of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) for management of cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae. All the tested isolates showed suppressive effect on aphid. Two-year pooled data revealed lower incidence of 13.9-17.1 aphids/plant in the EPF treated plots compared to higher incidence of 107.5 aphids/plant in untreated control. Significantly higher yields were recorded in the plots treated with Bb-5a, Ma-4 and Vl-8 isolates (28.0, 27.4 and 27.4 t/ha, respectively) compared to untreated control (22.3 t/ha). The populations of predatory coccinellid and spiders in EPF treated and untreated control plots were found statistically non-significant indicating the safety of entomopathogenic fungi to these predators.

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The present study was carried out to assess the field efficacy of 10 isolates of entomofungal pathogens on management of cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora. All the tested isolates showed suppressive effect on aphid population. Two-year pooled data revealed lower incidence of 19.37-40.81 aphids/plant in the entomofungal pathogen treated plots compared to higher incidence of 88.07 aphids/plant in untreated control. Among the 10 isolates tested, Vl-8 isolate of Lecanicillium lecanii, Ma-6 isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae and Bb-5a isolate of Beauveria bassiana showed 78.01%, 77.42% and 76.91% reduction of aphid population, respectively, over control and were on par with each other. Significantly higher yields were recorded in the plots treated with Bb-5a, Ma-6 and Vl-8 isolates (1252, 1225 and 1208 kg/ha, respectively) compared to untreated control (916 kg/ha). The predatory coccinellid populations of Cheilomenes sexmaculata and Micromus timidus in entomofungal treated and untreated control plots were almost similar and found statistically non-significant, indicating the safety of fungal pathogens to these coccinellid predators.

Effect of indigenous isolates of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Lecanicillum lecanii were tested for two years during 2012 and 2013 on Bemisia tabaci infesting capsicum under protected cultivation. Among the ten isolates tested, NBAIR-Vl8 isolate of L. lecanii, NBAIR-Bb5a and NBAIR-Bb9 isolates of B. bassiana showed significant suppression of Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) with reduction of 73.15, 71.84 and 63.10% respectively. The yields were also superior in these treatments.

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