The present investigation to evaluate the compatibility of entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae with different concentrations of insecticides was conducted in Insecticides toxicology laboratory, Department of Entomology. Toxicity of five concentrations of two insecticides each, Spinetoram 11.7SC (Delegate) (0.0025, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.04%) and Novaluron 5.25 + Indoxacarb 4.5SC (Plethora) (0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06%) was tested against M. anisopliae in vitro. Observation revealed that spinetoram at 0.0025 and 0.005% concentration was found to be compatible and moderately toxic to the fungus as these concentrations recorded less than 50% inhibition and spore count was recorded 64.81 × 104 and 49.94 spores/ml, respectively. Concentration 0.01% was observed toxic and 0.02 and 0.04% each was found to be very toxic. All concentration of novaluron + indoxacarb despite of sufficient mycelium growth was observed very toxic to the fungus as it recorded low number of spore/ml.

Entomopathogens, IPM, Insecticides, bioagents, Metarhizium anisopliae

Spinetoram was found to be less toxic to M. anisopliae at lower concentration and the toxicity increased with the increase in concentration as T value was decreasing. At lower concentrations not more than 50% of inhibition was found. However, another insecticide novaluron + indoxacarb despite of having a significant difference in radial growth of mycelium and less than 50% inhibition at lower concentration, was found to be very toxic at each concentration as it recorded significantly smaller number of spores.

Ankit Uniyal and Poonam Srivastava (2023). Evaluation of Compatibility of Commercial Formulation of Entomopathogenic Fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae 1% WP (Kalichakra) with Different Concentrations of Insecticides under Laboratory Conditions. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(12): 227-231.