Field Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi against Brinjal and Chilli Aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover) (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

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.