Pathogenicity, Ovicidal Action, and Median Lethal Concentrations (LC50) of Entomopathogenic Fungi against Exotic Spiralling Whitefly,Aleurodicus dispersusRussell

Abstract

Biological control using entomopathogenic fungi could be a promising alternative to chemical control. Entomopathogenic fungi,Beauveria bassiana(Balsamo) Vuillemin,Metarhizium anisopliae(Metschnikoff) Sorokin,Lecanicillium lecanii(Zimmerm.) Zare and Gams, andPaecilomyces fumosoroseus(Wize) Brown and Smith, were tested for their pathogenicity, ovicidal effect, and median lethal concentrations (LC50) against exotic spiralling whitefly,Aleurodicus dispersusRussell. The applications were made at the rate of 2 × 109 conidia mL−1for evaluating the pathogenicity and ovicidal effect of entomopathogenic fungi againstA. dispersus. The results of pathogenicity test showed thatP. fumosoroseus(P1 strain) was highly pathogenic toA. dispersusrecording 100% mortality at 15 days after treatment (DAT).M. anisopliae(M2 strain) had more ovicidal effect causing 37.3% egg mortality at 8 DAT. However,L. lecanii(L1 strain) caused minimum egg hatchability (23.2%) at 10 DAT as compared to control (92.6%). The lowest LC50produced byP. fumosoroseus(P1 strain) as 8.189 × 107 conidia mL−1indicated higher virulence againstA. dispersus. Hence, there is potential for use of entomopathogenic fungi in the field conditions as an alternate control method in combating the insect pests and other arthropod pests since they are considered natural mortality agents and are environmentally safe.