Bio-efficacy of entomopathogenic microbes against safflower aphid (Uroleucon Compositae Theobald) under dry land condition

Efficacy of entomopathogenic microbes against safflower aphid (Uroleucon compositae Theobald) was studied for three consecutive years from 2012–13 to 2014–15. The lowest aphid population was recorded due to foliar spray of Metarhizium anisopliae @ 4 g l ⁻¹ (17.04 and 12.11 aphids on 5 cm twig plant⁻¹ after first and second spray, respectively). It was followed by foliar spray of Verticillium leccanii @ 4 g l⁻¹ (19.19 and 13.78 aphids on 5 cm twig plant⁻¹) and Beauveria bassiana @ 4 g l⁻¹ (22.44 and 20.49 aphids on 5 cm twig plant⁻¹). The maximum decline in aphid population after first and second spray was registered in Metarhizium anisopliae @ 4 g l ⁻¹ (72.89 and 84.80%) followed by Verticillium leccanii @ 4 g l⁻¹ (69.47 and 82.70%) and Beauveria bassiana @ 4 g l⁻¹ (64.30 and 74.28%). Besides its efficacy in checking safflower aphid to the desired level, Metarhizium anisopliae @ 4 g l⁻¹ gave the highest average seed yield (799 kg ha⁻¹) with the highest Benefit: Cost ratio (2.08) and it was followed by Verticillium leccanii @ 4 g l⁻¹ (643.0 kg ha⁻¹ and 1.71) and Beauveria bassiana @ 4 g l⁻¹ (565 kg ha⁻¹ and 1.43).