Biopesticidal Formulation Of Beauveria Bassiana Effective Against Larvae Of Helicoverpa Armigera

Abstract

The present study was to emphasize entomopathogens in pest management of cash crops over chemical pesticides, optimization of media for growth of Beauveria bassiana and bioassay of different formulations for their efficacy as marketable and easily applicable biopesticide. Beauveria bassiana (Order: Hypocreales, Family: Cordycipitaceae) popularly known as white muscardine entomogenous fungi was isolated from soyabean fields of Misrod, Bhopal. Media for optimal growth of fungus were standardized. Its different formulations viz. carrier based powder formulation, oil based formulation and bentonite oil based formulation using homogenizers were prepared. These formulations were bioassayed against Helicoverpa armigera (Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Noctuidae), the most destructive pest in soyabean. Bentonite based liquid formulation was observed to be most effective as determined by measuring larval mortality as well as viability of fungal spores and ease of applicability.