author(s)
Balakrishnan MM, Prakash R Naik

abstract
Ten isolates of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae were tested in the laboratory for infectivity to the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei. The adult beetles were treated with four spore concentrations (105, 106,107 and 108 per ml), incubated and observed for mycosis. Eight isolates caused above 90% infection at the highest spore load whereas only three were on par with this at the standard dose of 107 conidia per ml. Based on the bioassay, three highly virulent isolates- BCRL 6911, CCRI Ma1 and CCRI Ma2 were identified for further evaluation.