Potential of Entomopathogenic Fungi and in combination with Bacillus Thuringiensis for control of the Helicoverpa Armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in Tomatoes

Abstract

The susceptibility of third install larvae of Helicoverpa armigers to 7 strains of 3 entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) species ie Bueauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae (M.a) and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (P.Fr) was tested under laboratory conditions. Three best performing strains in 3 species/strains ie B. Bassiana 124, M. Anisopliae 79 and P. Fumosoroseus 14 were selected to examine their effectiveness against different larval and pupal stages of H. armigera. Sublethal doses were determined for each of the above mentioned EPF strain and for a commercial Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) product ie Xentary and were subsequently tested in both individual bioassays as well as in combinations of an EPF and the Bt product