POTENTIAL OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI AGAINST LARVAE AND EGGS OF SPODOPTERA LITURA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)

The susceptibility of third instar larvae of Spodoptera litura to various strains of entomopathogenic fungi; Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuillemin, Isaria fumosorosea Wize, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin and Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Viegas was tested under laboratory conditions at Department of Agri. Entomology University of Agriculture, Faisalabad using larval immersion method. Entomopathogenic fungi displayed varying efficacies ranging from 6.45 to 59.74% with more profound effects in treatments with B. bassiana 25 and I. fumosorosea 32. The isolates tested differed significantly in mycosis and sporulation on cadavers. Strains with high virulence potential also showed greater mycosis and sporulation on cadavers. These strains were further investigated to observe their potential against eggs of the insect. Hatching in fungal treated eggs varied significantly (37.50-78.00%) among different treatments. M. anisopliae L6 with the lowest egg hatching was the most effective fungal isolate followed by I. fumosorosea 32 and B. bassiana 25. Entomopathogenic fungi had not only effect on egg hatching but were also able to infect larvae of S. litura after hatching in fungal treated eggs. Based on egg and larval mortality data, we suggest that B. bassiana 25, I. fumosorosea 32 and M. anisopliae L6 could be deployed as potential biocontrol agents against S. litura in IPM programs.