Interaction of entomopathogenic fungi ICAR SBI Ma 08 with insect pest

The project looked at the relationship among the entomopathogenic fungi, namely Beauveria bassiana, Beauveria brongniartii, and Metarhizium anisopliae, and their interactions with the soil fungi in the sugarcane ecosystem. Various isolates of B.bassiana, B.brongniartii, and M.anisopliae were collected from the sugarcane ecosystem all over India and evaluated against borer and white grub in sugarcane.Metarhizium anisopliae was found to be the best species, and its isolates have more virulence and higher adaptability in the sugarcane ecosystem in terms of persistence after inoculation.A strain of Metarhizium anisopliae; a highly sporulating and virulent strain; adaptable for culturing in various media; effective against lepidopteran larvae and white grubs.