Exploration of three native strains of entomopathogenic fungi against rice yellow hairy caterpillar, Psalis pennatula (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in Assam.

Rice yellow hairy caterpillar Psalis pennatula Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) is an emerging pest of rice and an increased incidence is expected in different rice-growing areas of Assam in the coming years. The caterpillar is a voracious leaf feeder and can consume the whole leaves within a day. Keeping this in view, an attempt was made to evaluate the bio-efficacy of three important native isolates of entomopathogenic fungal strains viz. Beauveria bassiana (KR855715), Cordyceps javanica (OM321438) and Isaria fumosorosea (MH414514) against P. pennatula larvae under laboratory conditions during the Sali season of rice. All three EPF strains at different conidial dilutions (1x103, 1x105,1x107, 1x108 and1x109 conidia/ml) were found to be pathogenic to the 3rd instar larvae of P. pennatula. Among the tested fungal strains, the strain Isaria fumosorosea (MH414514) showed the highest mortality (100%) at 1x107 conidia/ml and Cordyceps javanica (OM321438) showed the lowest mortality (51%) at 1x107conidia/ml at 10th day of post-treatment. The tested fungal isolates could play a vital role as microbial biopesticides in suppressing the P. pennatula population in Assam and could be incorporated into IPM strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]