Studies on Mass Production of Entomopathogenic Fungi Metarhizium Anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Using Different Media and Potential Against Chickpea Pod Borer, Helicoverpa Armigera (Hubner)

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Mass production of entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsh.) using different media and potential against chickpea pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.)” was carried out at Biological Control Laboratory and Crop Research Centre (CRC) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut during 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. Out of 207 soil samples examined from four districts viz. Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharnpur and Shamli in western plain zone of Uttar Pradesh and isolated five isolates of M. anisopliae from these samples. RT-PCR assay using ITS primers yielded an expected amplicon of 650 bp from five samples. The sequences obtained were deposited to NCBI Gene Bank with accession numbers ON183248. The pathogenicity of local fungus of M. anisopliae isolate SVPUAT 1 Accession no. ON183248 was highest (100 per cent) after seven days of treatment and LT50 and LT90 value was also low in isolate SVPUAT 1 with 3.16 and 5.16 days respectively. The most suitable media for mass production of M. anisopliae was Rice + 1 % Yeast + 1 gm Dextrose (82.25 × 107 spores/gm) whereas, Corcyra rearing wastes + 1 % Yeast + 1 gm. Dextrose (Rs. 0.02/100 gm) was economically best. The highest rate of conidia pre cent increase in FYM liquid + 1 % Yeast + 1 gm Dextrose as well as best for long term storage. The mortality effect of different concentrations of M. anisopliae on several instars (IInd, IIIrd and IVth) of H. armigera gradually increases with spore concentrations. The highest mortality recorded at highest conidial concentration of 2 × 1010 conidia/ml. The LT50 and LT90 value was also lower at this concentration. The larval reduction per cent was also highest at higher concentration of 2 × 1010 conidia/ml (59.07 Per cent) with highest yield (16.81q/ha) and incremental cost benefit ratio (Rs. 5.26).