Potato Tuber Moth, Phthorimaea Operculella (Zeller) Management using Entomopathogenic Fungi on Seed Potato Tuber in West Showa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Potato Tuber Moth, Phthorimaea operculella is the major insect pest and causes damage both under field and seed storage of Potato, Solanum tuberosum in Ethiopia. For this major threat of productions the experiments were carried out in a simple CRD under laboratory and RCBD design under field condition having three replications to evaluate the Entomopathogenic fungi of B. bassiana (PPRC-56 isolate), M. anisopliae (MM isolate) and V. lecani each at 1x104, 1x105, 1x106, 1x107, 1x108spore/ml (in laboratory) and1x106, 1x107, 1x108spore/ml (in field) for the management of Potato Tuber Moth (PTM). Laboratory investigation of M. anisopliae isolate significantly reduced the damage caused by PTM followed by B. bassiana isolate than the fungal type of V. lecani. The fungal species B. bassiana significantly reduced the infestation of PTM larvae both on the leaves and tubers followed by the M. anisopliae than the V. lecani. In general as the concentration levels of fungus increased, the number of larvae and the damage they caused on leaves were significantly decreased. From the presented studies for the effective management of PTM in potato using B. bassiana and M. anisopliae could be considered and using the higher fungal concentration also advantageous.