Mass production ofbeauveria bassiana isolated from sugarcane root borer,emmalocera depresella swinhoe

Abstract

Among the various concentrations of sugarcane molasses tested, three to six per cent molasses was found to be highly suitable for the radial growth, biomass production and spore production ofBeauveria bassiana. Different concentrations of spent wash, a waste product from sugar factories, tested for the growth and spore production ofB. bassiana did not support any fungal growth. Among the grains and tubers tested, mycelial dry weight of the fungus was maximum in rice (0.67 x 1010 g/100 ml) followed by sorghum (0.64 x 1010 g/100 ml), whereas spore production ofB. bassiana was significantly higher in chopped carrots (2.08 x 1010 spores/100 g), tapioca (1.74 x 1010 spores/100 g) and potato (1.67 x 1010 spores/100 g) compared to PDA medium (1.45 x 1010 spores /100 ml). Among the agricultural byproducts tested, spore production was found to be high on sugarcane press mud (1.85 x 1010 spores/100 g). Among the oil cakes tested, spore production ofB. bassiana was maximum on gingelly cake (5.35 x 1010 spores/100 g) followed by cotton seed cake (4.31 x 1010 spores/100 g) and neem cake (3.80 x 1010 spores/100 g).