Evaluation of entomopathogenic fungi and essential oils against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.)

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate entomo pathogenic fungi and essential oils against Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. during 2014–15 at College of Horticulture, Bidar, India. Isolates of Beauveria bassiana (isolate BCH₄ and BCH₆), Nomuraea rileyi (isolate NCH₂) and Fusarium culmorum (isolate FCH₂) were highly virulent to eggs and larval stages of P. xylostella. High levels of mortality were observed with Beauveria isolate at 1x10⁷ conidia/ml causing 45.75% egg mortality 55.79% larval mortality. All essential oilstestyed viz., fennel, Foeniculum vulgare, mint, Mentha sp, marigold, Tagetes erecta, basil, Ocimum sericanum, Java grass, Cinnamomum winterianus and Nut meg, Myristica fragrans can affect P. xylostella by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased larval mortality (with percentage of efficacy more than 70%) and inhibition of P. xylostella reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). Mint, Basil and Nut meg decreased the pupal weight, pupal duration, adult emergence, hatchability and increased the pupal mortality.