GROWTH, SPORULATION AND BIOMASS PRODUCTION OF NATIVE ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGAL ISOLATES ON A SUITABLE MEDIUM

ABSTRACT The two culture media tested both Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar ( SDA) recorded maximum mycelial growth in Beauveria bassiana isolates. Maximum growth was observed in the isolates of VpNlKKL 2121 (65.22mm), BbMtKKL 2107 (65.16mm), BbMdKKL 2106 (63.44mm) and FmNvKKL 2121 (62.78mm) and minimum growth was noticed in VpPmKKL 2120 (37.33mm) in PDA media. With SDA media maximum growth was observed in BbMtKKL 2107 (68.02mm) and BbMdKKL 2106 (66.91). Slowest growth was noticed in VpPmKKL 2120 (32.18 mm) .Highest spore count was noticed in B. bassiana isolates BbMtKKL 2107 (8.90 X 108 spores /ml) and BbMdKKL 2106 (8.77 X 108 spores / ml) isolates and are on par with FmNvKKL 2124 and VpPmKKL 2120 with PDA media. All other isolates had similar effect. Similarly, BbMdKKL 2106 isolate of B. bassiana in SDA media showed maximum spore count of 8.95 X 108 spores / ml and other isolates were on par with each other, except FpEvKKL 2119 which recorded least spore count of 0.52 X 108 spores / ml. Of the various fungi tested in (Potato Dextrose Broth)PDB and(Sabouraud Dextrose Broth) SDB (liquid broths) revealed that isolate BbMtKKL 2107 produced highest yield of (1.87g) followed by FpCmKKL 1526 (1.66g) and BbMdKKL 2106 (1.40g) and they were on a per with each other and remaining cultures four cultures were on par with each other. With reference to SDB media tested, highest yield was noticed in FpCmKKL 1526 (2.10g).