Evaluation of some entomopathogenic fungal isolates from Kashmir for the biocontrol of white grubs infesting turf grass in golf course.

摘要

The pathogenicity of nine fungi, namely Beauveria bassiana (local and commercial), B. brongniartii, Metarhizium anisopliae, Aspergillus flavus, A. terreus, Verticillium lecanii, Fusarium pallidoroseum and Trichothecium roseum, was tested in the laboratory against Holotrichia sp. All the fungi proved to be pathogenic at a spore concentration 1x108 spore/ml to grub with varied mortality. Beauveria bassiana (local), B. bassiana (commercial), B. brongniartii and M. anisopliae were found to be the most effective. B. bassiana at 1x108 spore/ml concentration inflicted initial mortality on the 6th day (46.6%) and 100% mortality was observed on the 12th day. In B. brongniartii, the initial mortality started on the 8th day (33.33%) and 100% mortality occurred on the 20th day, while in the case of M. anisopliae, mortality was initiated on the 8th day (30%) and the highest mortality was observed on the 20th day (93.91%). In the field, all the three screened biological control agents caused heavy mortality at the highest concentration of 1x108 spore/ml. However, B. bassiana was found most effective as compared to the rest. In case of B. bassiana, the first mortality was observed on the 10th day (36.66%) and 100% mortality occurred on the 20th day, while in the case of B. brongniartii and M. anisopliae, the first mortality was observed on the 10th and 12th day and complete mortality was observed on the 22nd and 24th day, respectively..