Evaluation of pure cultures and formulations of Entomopathogenic fungi against Cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora (Koch)

Studies were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of pure cultures and commercial formulations of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Pochonia (Verticillium) lecanii, Hirsutella thompsonii and Cladosporium oxysporum against cowpea aphid. Spray application of pure culture of B. bassiana and P. lecanii @ 10⁸ spores ml⁻¹ and Fusarium pallidoroseum @ 7x10⁶ spores ml⁻¹ gave cent per cent mortality at 14 days after treatment and were found to be highly efficient in controlling the aphid population. Among the four commercial formulations tested, biocatch (P. lecanii) and Biopower (B. bassiana) @ 0.2% recorded more than 90% mortality and was found to be on par with malathion 0.05%. The highest yield was obtained in plants treated with F. pallidoroseum @ 7x10⁶ spores ml⁻¹ (47.8%) which recorded the maximum number and weight of pods followed by P. lecanii and B. bassiana @ 10⁸ spores ml⁻¹ gave 47.1 and 45.1% respectively.