Field Efficacy of Biocapsules of Entomopathogenic Fungi for the Management of Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

Many agro-ecosystems have been seriously undermined using synthetic pesticides, and are losing incentive in terms of productivity, with substantial loss of biodiversity. To reclaim ecosystem health and protect global health, there is an important need to put the ecology standards back at the core of crop protection. Biological control methods are favourable alternative methods to the chemical method. In the evaluation of the efficacy of biocapsules of Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmermann) Zare and Gams and L. saksenae (Kushwaha) Kurihara and Sukarno for the management of cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora Koch (Homoptera: Aphididae), it was revealed that foliar application of L. saksenae and L. lecanii three capsules L-1 sprayed twice (at weekly intervals) were similarly effective in causing 94.38 and 92.28 per cent reduction in the population of  A. craccivora and with lower dose at two and one capsules L-1 population noted was 37.51 to 63.96 per cent. The spore suspensions of both fungi were more effective than the lower doses (78.73 - 83.53 per cent reduction) in cowpeas. While Thiamethoxam 25 WG, was 95.79 per cent. Biocapsule treatment did not affect the natural enemy populations significantly. The yield recorded in the plots with L. saksenae capsules at two and three L-1 was higher than other treated and untreated plots. Therefore, the need-based creation of biocontrol formulations in capsules, tablets, powder, etc. should be popularized.