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Pak. J. Bot., 44(6): 2081-2086, 2012.

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USE OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI FOR THE CONTROL OF MUSTARD APHID (LIPAPHIS ERYSIMI) ON CANOLA (BRASSICA NAPUS L.)

AZIZ AHMED UJJAN* AND SALEEM SHAHZAD

Abstract: The study was carried out to assess the virulence of 4 local and 3 exotic entomopathogenic fungal strains against mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi Kalt.) under laboratory and screen house conditions. According to LC₅₀ and LT₅₀ values, four strains viz., Lecanicillium lecanii (PDRL922), Paecilomyces lilacinus (PDRL812), Beauveria bassiana (PDRL1187) and Metarhizium anisopliae (PDRL526) are found to be effective against the mustard aphid. The strain PDRL711 of M. anisopliae was found less effective, whereas, strains PDRL738 of M. anisopliae and PDRL1029 of L. lecanii were found avirulent. Based on the lab bioassays, each entomopathogenic fungal strain was used @ 10⁷ c.f.u. ml^-1 to evaluate its efficacy against mustard aphid infestation on canola plants under screen house conditions. Data showed a non-significant reduction in efficacy of different strains under screen house conditions as compared to lab bioassays. Strain PDRL922 reduced its efficacy from 98 to 83%, strain PDRL812 from 100 to 73% and Strain PDRL1187 from 88 to 77%. However, strain PDRL526 showed as increase in efficacy from 72 to 83% and strain PDRL711 from 44 to 70%. Strains PDRL1029 and PDRL738 appeared to be avirulent during lab as well as screen house trials. The study revealed that the strain PDRL526 of M. anisopliae, PDRL922 of L. lecanii, PDRL1187 of B. bassiana, PDRL812 of P. lilacinus, and PDRL711 of M. anisopliae have potential for  use as bio-pesticides against mustard aphid under field conditions.

Pest and Disease Research Laboratory (PDRL),

Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness Management, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.

*Correspondence author’s e-mail address: ujjjann@gmail.com