Efficacy of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae against wheat aphid

Abstract

In the recent study, the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae against wheat aphid species in field conditions to check the insecticidal effect of entomophathogenic fungi were used to evaluate their pathogenecity against adults of different aphid species i.e., Schizaphis graminum, Rhopalosiphum padi, Brevicoryne brassicae and Lipaphis erysimi, and their natural enemies of crops. Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were found effective at all concentrations i.e., 1×106, 1×107 and 1×108 cfu/ml on all aphid species, but the uppermost concentration (1×108 cfu/ml) provided maximum control within a short period of time. B. bassiana concentration (1×108 cfu/ml) proved to be lethal to wheat aphid species after the 3rd day. Mortality of wheat aphids were observed at maximum highest concentration of 1×108 cfu/ml were in range of 100% at 8th day of treatment for different aphid species treated at various concentrations. M. anisopliae (1×108 cfu/ml) showed excellent mortality 85% and 84% at 5th and 6th day respectively, against wheat aphid species. In conclusion, the use of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae as biopesticides in agriculture is a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to control insects’ pests.