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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.

Surveys were conducted during 2017 and 2018 in the citrus orchards of Punjab, India to record the incidence of different insect pests and their natural enemies. During October-December, Entomopathogenic Fungus (EPF), Aschersonia aleyrodis was found to infect nymphs and pupae of citrus whitefly, Dialeurodes citri on the lower leaf surface of Kinnow from the orchards of Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Mansa and Fazilka districts.The fungus was isolated from the infected nymphs and pupae and morphological studies were conducted to confirm the identity of the entomopathogenic fungus. Aschersonia aleyrodis was reported for the first time on D. citri under Punjab conditions and this EPF also confirmed by amplification and sequencing of beta tubulin gene showed 99.40 per cent identity in NCBI, GenBank. Hence further studies on the host range, interaction with other insect pests and parasitoids, survival and longevity should be conducted to explore the potential of this fungus as microbial biocontrol agent for citrus whitefly.

Fall army worm, Spodoptera frugiperda was reported as an invasive pest on maize in India during May 2018 at Karnataka, India. Surveys were conducted for occurrence of pathogens on S. frugiperda in affected maize fields in Karnataka, India. Mycosed larvae of FAW with abundant external white fungal growth and synnemata were observed in maize fields. About 20-30% of 4 and 5th instar larvae of FAW were affected by this fungus. Isolations from the infected cadavers on Sabourauds Dextrose Yeast extract Agar yielded creamish white, round, flat colonies initially, which later produced erect synnematous structures with abundant long erect clusters of condiogenous cells. The conidia were oval-ellipsoid shape with the size of 1.5-2.5 X 3- 3.5 µm. Further molecular characterization of the fungus using ITS region identified it as Beauveria felina. To best of our knowledge, this is the first report of occurrence of B. felina on maize fall armyworm.

White grubs are one of the major pests of sugarcane crop in coastal Andhra Pradesh, India. The present study was taken up to assess the efficacy of biocontrol agents viz., entomopathogenic fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes for management of white grub, Holotrichia consanguinea in sugarcane ecosystem during 2015-16 and 2016-17. Two entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae (NBAIR Ma4 strain) and Beauveria bassiana (NBAIR Bb5a), two entomopathogenic nematodes ( Heterorhabditis indica NBAIR-H38 and Steinernema carpocapsae NBAII Sc 05), Neem cake, Phorate 10G were evaluated through soil application as different treatments in white grub infested sugarcane field in coastal Andhra Pradesh for two seasons during 2015 and 2016-17. All biocontrol agent treatments were better than the insecticidal/neem cake application in the management of sugarcane white grubs.However, based on cost benefit ratio of the treatments, soil application of M. anisopliae @ 2.5 kg along with 250 kg farm yard manure per hectare (twice application in July and August) proved superior to other biocontrol agent treatments. Soil application of biocontrol agents, Phorate and Neem cake did not show anydeleterious effect on non-target organisms like, earthworms, earwigs, spiders, coccinellids and chrysopids.

Sugarcane is one of the important commercial crop in India and white grubs are one of the serious pests of this crop. The present study was taken up to study the efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi against Holotrichia serrata (Fabricius) in sugarcane. Laboratory bioassay studies were conducted using five strains of Metarhizium anisopliae (ICAR-NBAIR Ma-4, Ma-6, Ma-11, Ma-14a & Ma-35) and one strain of Beauveria bassiana (ICAR-NBAIR Bb-5a) on third instar grubs of H. serrata at the concentration of 1 × 108 spores/ml. M. anisopliae (ICAR-NBAIR Ma-4) strain showed 100% mortality of the grubs and the rest of the strains showed 56–80% mortality of H. serrata. Dose and time mortality studies with aqueous spore suspensions and talc formulation (2% WP) of M. anisopliae (ICAR-NBAIR Ma-4 strain) showed LC50 value of 6.67 × 104 spores/ml and 1.72 g/l andLT50 value of 122.02 h at spore dose of 1 × 108 spores/ml and 183.86 h at the dose of 5 g/l. Further field evaluation was conducted in white grub infested sugarcane during 2016–17 and 2017–18 using M. anisopliae (ICAR-NBAIR Ma-4 strain) and B. bassiana (ICAR-NBAIR Bb-5a) for management of white grubs, H. serrata in Karnataka state of India. The results showed soil applications of 250 kg of M. anisopliae, (ICAR-NBAIR Ma-4) enriched Farmyard manure per hectare two times (June & July) effectively reduced the grub population of H. serrata by 86–89% leading to reduced plant damage and increased yield (33–34%). This treatment was better than the insecticidal application in the management of sugarcane white grubs.

Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith) (fall armyworm) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a key pest of maize that has recently entered in India causing damage and yield loss. A biocontrol-based integrated pest management (IPM) strategy was designed and evaluated in farmer’s field during rabi and kharif season (2018–2019). IPM strategy comprising installation of controlled release FAW pheromone traps, four releases of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, two sprays of neem oil, one spray of each Bacillus thuringiensis (NBAIR-BT25) and Metarizium anisopliae (NBAIR Ma-35) resulted in 76 and 71.64% egg mass; 80 and 74.44% larval population reduction at 60 days after treatment during rabi and kharif season, respectively. Cob yield per acre in biocontrol-based IPM field was higher than the farmer’s practice (6–7 sprays of emamectin benzoate 5% SG) during both the seasons, and it resulted in 38.3 and 42.29% gain in yield per acre during rabi and kharif, respectively. Therefore, this module forms a base to manage the fall armyworm in an eco-friendly and farmer friendly manner. Future research with other alternatives has also been discussed.

Highly polyphagous rugose spiralling whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) invaded India during 2016. Pathogenicity of two strains (ICAR-NBAIR Pfu-1 & Pfu-5) o...

Surveys and surveillances were carried out in the ber growing regions of Punjab through fixed plot surveys in Fruit Research Farm, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, Punjab during 2018 and 2019 to record the emerging insect pests and their natural enemies. During these surveys, infection of a fungus was observed on the adults of blow fly, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) occurring on ber plants in PAU, Ludhiana. This fly is economically significant as pollinator of fruit crops. The adult flies were observed to be dead and were covered with fungal mycelial growth. Later on, the fungus was identified as an entomopathogenic fungus, Cladosporium cladosporioides based on morphological and molecular characterization. This is the first record of infection of an entomopathogenic fungus, C. cladosporioides on this pollinator dipteran fly, C. megacephala from Punjab, India. Thus, the potential of C. cladosporioides for the control of other dipteran insect-pests of fruit crops can be explored.

Glasshouse experiments were conducted to establish an indigenous soil-derived strain of Metarhizium anisopliae (ICAR-NBAIR Ma-35) as endophyte in maize and sorghum by artificial inoculation through foliar spray of conidial suspension. Colonization of M. anisopliae were studied at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 Days After Treatment (DAT) in stem and leaf tissues of maize and sorghum by plating technique and PCR method. Metarhizium anisopliae showed variation with regard to the extent of colonization in stem and leaf tissues of maize and sorghum. In maize, colonization was observed at 30DAT in stem and 30-45DAT in leaf. In sorghum, colonization of M. anisopliae was observed during 15-60DAT in stem and 15-75DAT in leaf indicating longer persistence compared to maize. Colonization of M. anisopliae was observed in young growing stem tips and leaves (unsprayed) indicating the internal spread of M. anisopliae in maize and sorghum plants. M. anisopliae was not detected in the untreated stem and leaf tissues of maize and sorghum. The positive results of colonization of M. anisopliae in maize and sorghum stem/leaf tissues observed in plating technique were confirmed by the PCR amplification.

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.

Glasshouse experiments were conducted to study the endophytic ability of six strains of entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana in maize leaf and stem tissues when applied through foliar sprays of oil formulations. B. bassiana treated and untreated control plants were artificially infested with second instar larvae of Chilo partellus to assess the stem borer damage. All six strains showed varying percent colonization and persistence in stem and leaf tissues. The mean percent colonization ranged from 16.67-46.67 % in older stem tissues and 22.22-52.22 % in young stem tissues and in leaf, it ranged from 25.56-47.78 % in older leaf tissues and 31.11-57.78 % in young leaf tissues. Among six isolates tested, Bb-45 isolate recorded the maximum mean colonization in older stem (46.67 %), older leaf (47.78%) and in young stem (52.22 %). Bb-5a isolate showed maximum mean colonization in young leaf tissues (57.78 %). Significantly lower percentage of dead hearts (2.2-11.1%) and lower stem tunneling (2.7-4.3cm/plant) was observed in B. bassiana treated plants as compared to the untreated control plants (28.86% of dead hearts and 13.41cm/plant stem tunneling).

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 ...

The present study was conducted to examine the ability of six promising indigenous isolates of Beauveria bassiana (NBAII-Bb-5a, 7, 14, 19, 23 and 45) as an endophyte in maize stem and leaf tissues. Maize seedlings (var. Nithyashree) were inoculated with conidial suspensions and were examined for endophytic establishment in leaf and stems at different intervals during 15-90 days after treatment. All six isolates showed colonization in stem and leaf tissues with varying abilities of colonization and persistence. The mean percent colonization ranged from 7.41 to 20.37 % in older stem tissues and 3.70 to 21.29 % in young stem tissues and in leaf, it ranged from 6.46 to 27.78 % in older leaf tissues and 11.11 to 26.85 % in young leaf tissues. Among six isolates tested, Bb-23 isolate recorded the maximum mean colonization in older stem (20.37 %), older leaf (27.78 %) and in young stem (21.29 %). Bb-5a isolate showed maximum mean colonization in young leaf tissues (26.85 %). Persistence of inoculated fungal isolates decreased with increase in age of the plant. No physical symptoms of damage were observed in any of the B. bassiana treated plants. No colonization of B. bassiana was observed in the untreated control maize plants. The results obtained in plating and PCR techniques were similar with regard to the confirmation of endophytic establishment of B. bassiana. This study indicated the possibility of using B. bassiana as an endophyte in maize for management of maize stem borer, Chilo partellus.

The present study was carried out to assess the field efficacy of endophytic isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Bb-5a, Bb-23 and Bb-45) and Metarhizium anisopliae (Ma-35) against maize stem borer (Chilo partellus Swinoe) during kharif seasons of 2015 and 2016 at ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR), Attur Farm, Bengaluru, Karnataka. All the tested isolates showed suppression of maize stem borer damage during both seasons. Pooled data indicated that lesser dead hearts (9.5-12.71%), stem tunnelling (3.98-4.36 cm/plant) and exit holes (2.59-2.79 /plant) in the treated plants compared to untreated control which showed 21.38% dead hearts, 8.01 cm/plant of stem tunnelling and 6.99 exit holes/plant. Among the four isolates tested, Bb-5a isolate of B. bassiana and Ma-35 isolate of M. anisopliae showed significantly superior effect in lowering the incidence of dead hearts (9.50 and 12.71%), stem tunnelling (3.98 and 4.36 cm/plant) and exit holes (2.59 and 2.79/plant) with higher yields of 72 and 70.0 tonnes/ha respectively.

Field efficacy of three promising isolates of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) for the management of Aphis gossypii in brinjal and chilli ecosystems and their effect on natural enemies are reported. The tested isolates showed suppressive effect against A. gossypii populations in brinjal and chilli ecosystems. Pooled data of two years revealed lower level of A. gossypii population in the EPF (Ma-4, Bb-5a and Vl-8 isolates) treated brinjal plots (4.54–13.97 aphids plant−1) as compared to the untreated control (49.27 aphids plant−1). Ma-4 isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae recorded a superior efficacy (90.79% reduction of aphids). In chilli, the EPF treated plots showed biosuppression of aphid population in the range of 6.79–9.44 aphids plant−1 as compared to the untreated control (27.25 aphids plant−1). Vl-8 isolate of Lecanicillium lecanii and Bb-5a of Beauveria bassiana showed 77.43 and 75.1 per cent reduction in aphid population and were on par with each other. Significantly higher yield of brinjal was recorded in the plots treated with the three EPF isolates (22.4–23.2 t ha−1) as compared to untreated control (14.9 t ha−1). In chilli, Bb-5a and Vl-8 isolates treated plots showed significantly higher yields (12.2 and 12.2 t ha−1) as compared to the untreated control (8.81 t ha−1). The predatory coccinellid Cheilomenes sexmaculata and spiders in EPF treated and untreated control plots were statistically at par indicating the safety of entomopathogenic fungi to these predators.