Laboratory assessment on compatibility of entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana Balsamo-vuillemin with imidacloprid 48% FS for bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus L. moench) seed treatment

Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Vuillemin), an effective entomopathogenic fungi is well positioned in the biological control of insect pests for more than ten decades around the world. Its potential can be attributed to the fungus’s entry through several parts of the insect and its mode of action. But sometimes a virulent strain of B. bassiana may become ineffective because of xenobiotics and environmental factors. To enhance the efficacy of B. bassiana, which is necessary for placing it in Integrated Pest Management, the Colony Forming Unit (CFU) of B. bassiana should be compatible with xenobiotics used in crop production. The compatible concentrations of imidacloprid 48% FS (500 ppm) for B. bassiana was studied in the laboratory condition and results revealed low per cent growth inhibition (21.25%) and maximum radial growth (1.46 cm) at 15 Days After Inoculation (DAI). The inhibition of colony growth was reduced by treating the bhendi seeds with B. bassiana and imidacloprid 48 % FS at a time interval of four hours which showed high mean colony growth (51.12).