Abstract
In the present study two entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Verticillium lecanii, were tested for their efficacy
against whitefly and aphid. The mortality caused by B. bassiana was higher as compared to V. lecanii. The mortalities caused
by filtrates were significantly higher than those by conidia of both the fungi. In case of whitefly, the mortality caused by B.
bassiana was significantly higher than that of V. lecanii. Similarly, the mortality with filtrates was significantly greater than
that with conidia of both the fungi. On the other hand, in case of aphid, the mortality caused by V. lecanii was slightly higher
than that by B. bassiana. Similar is the case with formulations. The mortality caused by conidia was greater than by filtrates
of both the fungi but the difference was non-significant. As regards treatments, the maximum mortality of whitefly was
obtained with treatment B. bassiana Bb01 followed by V. lecanii Vl01 and B. bassiana Bb02 when applied as filtrates. The
treatment V. lecanii V3 caused the minimum mortality followed by V. lecanii V2. The filtrate formulations caused higher
mortalities as compared to conidial application. On the contrary, the treatments in case of aphid mortality were at par with each
other with few exceptions. Maximum aphid mortality was observed with treatment V. lecanii V2 followed by B. bassiana
Bb02. The remaining treatments almost gave the similar mortalities. Time intervals also affected mortality. The mortality was
significantly greater after exposure to 6 days as compared to 3 days.
