Effect of chemical pesticides on growth characteristics of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin

Abstract

The outcomes on compatibility of different chemical pesticides with M. anisopliae clearly indicate that the highest mycelial growth (75.17 mm) was observed in flonicamid 50% WG followed by imidacloprid 17.8% SL (70.50 mm). The minimum (16.48 percent) growth inhibition of M. anisopliae was observed in pesticidal treatment with flonicamid 50% WG which indicates its better compatibility with M. anisopliae. Among chemical pesticides tested for their compatibility, the minimum percent growth inhibition was observed in flonicamid 50% WG (16.48 percent) followed by imidacloprid 17.8 SL (21.67 percent), deltamethrin 2.5% EC (26.30 percent) and chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC (27.78 percent) indicating better compatibility with M. anisopliae than dimethoate 30% EC (69.07 percent), clothanidin 25% WG (54.81 percent) and difenthiuron 50% WP (51.30 percent) in which more than 50 percent growth inhibition was observed. Among fungicides, all the three fungicides propiconazole 25% EC (94.44 percent), difenoconazole 25% EC (77.22 percent) and copper oxychloride 50% WP (56.85 percent) indicating that they are not compatible with M. anisopliae.