<I>In vitro</I> Pathogenicity of <I>Bacillus thuringiensis</I> against Tea Termites

Dipendra Singha; Baby Singha; B. K. Dutta

doi:10.18311/jbc/2010/3661

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Authors

Dipendra Singha
Department of Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Assam University, Silchar 788 011, Assam ,IN
Baby Singha
Department of Zoology, G. C. College, Silchar 788 004, Assam ,IN
B. K. Dutta
Department of Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Assam University, Silchar 788 011, Assam ,IN

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18311/jbc/2010/3661

Keywords:

Microcerotermes beesoni, Microtermes obesi, Median Lethal Time.

Abstract

Tea is an economically important plantation crop of Assam, India. Termites are one of the predominant pests causing damage to tea, thereby affecting the productivity and quality. Bacillus thuringiensis strains are widely used as microbial control agents for different insect pests. In the present study B. thuringiensis and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis were evaluated in vitro for their pathogenicity against two species of tea termites, viz., Microtermes obesi Holmgren and Microcerotermes beesoni Snyder. Bacillus thuringiensis strains caused mortality of above 80% in both the termite species. B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis was found to be more virulent compared to B. thuringiensis against the termites.