Efficacy Of Beauveria Bassiana And Metarhizium Anisopliae For The Management Against Pieris Brassicae And Pieris Rapae Larvae On Crucifers’ Crop Under Field Conditions

Abstract

The aim of the present study was the evaluation of different entomopathogenic fungi against Pieris brassicae larvae (Cabbage butterfly) and Pieris rapae larvae (imported cabbage worm) in RBD with 5 treatments and 4 replications. The efficacy of different entomopathogenic fungi, viz., Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae was tested in different treatments i.e., 3g/L, 5g/L. The survey was conducted in different areas of Dehradun farm sites during February and March 2023. Periodic field visits were conducted in different regions of Dehradun. Various insect pests from different field sites were collected in boxes with help of hand-picking methods and an aerial net. The field-collected larvae were brought to the laboratory, reared on cabbage mustard leaves and observed for mortality and development of mycosis. Cadavers’ larvae were isolated by cutting into small pieces with the help of a sterile blade, and the bits were aseptically transferred onto the PDA. The media were kept at 25±1°C in a BOD incubator for mycelial growth. The radial growth of entomopathogenic fungi at every observation. B. bassiana showed the most effective of all treatments, whereas the minimum mycelial growth was done by M. anisopliae. For mass production of entomopathogenic fungi on solid substrates, viz., wheat and sorghum, B. bassiana showed the highest mycelial growth on sorghum, whereas M. anisopliae showed the highest mycelial growth on wheat.