Department of Entomology, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263 145, (India).
*Correspondance address: Assistant Professor, RARS, SKUAST (K), Post Box No. 146, Choglam Road, Housing Colony, Leh, Ladakh-1941 01, J&K, (India). E-mail: drajay2002@rediffmail.com
Studies on the pathogenicity of two isolates of Metarhizium anisopllae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin, cultured on SDA medium supplemented with and without larval extract, were carried out against Spodoptera litura (Fab.) indicated that the virulence of both isolates increased when cultures were grown on SDA medium supplemented with larval extract. The LC50 values of Pantnagar isolate and MUCL 8237, grown on SDA medium supplemented with larval extract, were 1.08 and 1.42 × 106 conidia ml−1, 1.73 and 6.42 × 106 conidia ml, and 2.65 and 7.58 × 106 conidia ml−1 against second, third and fourth instar larvae, respectively, showing thereby higher virulence of the former in terms of LC50 and LT50 values against S. litura.
