Bioefficacy of Beauveria bassiana against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae)

Efficacy of entomopathogenic fungus formulation Daman (2 × 109 cfu/g) was evaluated against third instar larvae of Plutella xylostella at 5 × 106, 1 × 107, 2 × 107 cfu/ml under three humidity levels by exposing them in three different ways. It was inferred that treatment of larvae and food as well as treatment of larvae alone was significantly superior to the treatment of leaves alone. Humidity level exerted significant impact and larval mortality reduced drastically at lower level of humidity (30%) as compared to 60 and 90% humidity. Dose 2 × 107 cfu/ml proved more effective in bringing about the kill. Almost similar trend was observed with regard to adult emergence from the treated larvae.