Effectiveness of B. bassiana formulations against major defoliators of groundnut

Abstract

This study evaluates the efficacy of different formulations of Beauveria bassiana against major defoliators of groundnut, specifically Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera, under laboratory conditions. The experiment was conducted at the Biocontrol Research Laboratory, Junagadh Agricultural University. The study compared four formulations of B. bassiana (5% WP, 5% OD, 5% WDG, and 5% Gel) and a control. The results revealed that the B. bassiana 5% OD and B. bassiana 5% WDG formulations were the most effective, achieving 100% mortality of S. litura and H. armigera larvae after seven days. The B. bassiana 5% Gel and B. bassiana 5% WP formulations also demonstrated significant larval mortality. The findings suggest that B. bassiana formulations can serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides in groundnut cultivation, contributing to sustainable pest management practices.