Efficacy of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae against wheat aphid

Abstract In the recent study, the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae against wheat aphid species in field conditions to check the insecticidal effect of entomophathogenic fungi were used to evaluate their pathogenecity against adults of different aphid species i.e., Schizaphis graminum, Rhopalosiphum padi, Brevicoryne brassicae and Lipaphis erysimi , and their natural enemies of crops. Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae were found effective at all concentrations i.e., 1×10 6 , 1×10 7 and 1×10 8 cfu/ml on all aphid species, but the uppermost concentration (1×10 8 cfu/ml) provided maximum control within a short period of time. B. bassiana concentration (1×10 8 cfu/ml) proved to be lethal to wheat aphid species after the 3 rd day. Mortality of wheat aphids were observed at maximum highest concentration of 1×10 8 cfu/ml were in range of 100% at 8 th day of treatment for different aphid species treated at various concentrations. M. anisopliae (1×10 8 cfu/ml) showed excellent mortality 85% and 84% at 5 th and 6 th day respectively, against wheat aphid species. In conclusion, the use of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae as biopesticides in agriculture is a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to control insects’ pests.