Abstract

Entomopathogenic fungi belonging to six genera were evaluated for effectiveness against Tetranychus urticae Koch along with the standard check fenazaquin 10 EC at 1.5 ml -1 in both pot culture and field experiments. Beauveria bassiana was highly effective in reducing the mite population in pot culture and two field experiments with 54.57, 54.52, 51.87 per cent, respectively after two rounds of spraying. It was followed by Hirsutella thompsonii, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus in their order of effectiveness. More than 70 per cent reduction in mite population was recorded with the acaricide fenazaquin in all the experiments conducted.

Keywords: Tomato, Two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, Entomopathogenic fungi