Evaluation of some Entomopathogenic Fungal Isolates from Kashmir for the Bioeontrol of White Grubs Infesting Turf Grass in Golf Course

Abstract

The pathogenicity of nine fungi was tested in the laboratory against Holotrichia sp. Ail the fungi proved to be pathogenic at a spore concentration 1 í— 10⁸ spore/ml to grub with varied mortality. Beaitveria bassiana (Local), B. bassiana (commercial), B. brongniartii and Metarhizium anisopliae were found to be the most effective. B. bassiana @ 1x10⁸ spore/ml concentration inflicted initial mortality on 6^th day (46.6%) and cent per cent mortality was observed on 12^th day. In B. brongniartii initial mortality started on 8^th day (33.33%) and cent per cent mortality occurred on 20^th day, while as in case of M. anisopliae mortality was initiated on 8^th day (30%) and highest mortality was observed on 20^th day (93.91%). In the field, all the three screened bioeontrol agents caused heavy mortality at the highest concentration of 1x10⁸ spore/ml. However, B. bassiana was found most effective as compared to the rest. In case of B. bassiana, the first mortality was observed on 10^th day (36.66%) and cent per cent mortality occurred on 20^th day, while in case of B. brongniartii and M. anisopliae the first mortality was observed on 10^th and 12^th day and complete mortality was observed on 22^nd and 24^th day, respectively.