author(s)
Meena Thakur, Gayatri Dhumal, Anchal Rana and Shalini Verma

abstract
The present investigation was carried under field conditions to study the role of entomopathogenic fungi in bioremediation of copper in soils of Populus deltoides in Department of Environmental Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan during the period 2013-2014. The experiment comprised of eleven treatments viz., T₁ (No copper), T₂ (100 ppm Cu), T₃ (200 ppm Cu), T₄ (100 ppm Cu + M. anisopliae, 1x10⁵ condia/ml), T₅ (100 ppm Cu + M. anisopliae, 1x10⁶ condia/ml), T₆ (200 ppm Cu + M. anisopliae, 1x10⁵ condia/ml), T₇ (200 ppm Cu + M. anisopliae, 1x10⁶ condia/ml), T₈ (100 ppm Cu + B. bassiana, 1 x 10⁵ condia/ml), T₉ (100 ppm Cu + B. bassiana, 1x10⁶ condia/ml), T₁₀ (200 ppm Cu + B. bassiana (1x10⁵ condia/ml), T₁₁ (200 ppm Cu + B. bassiana,1x10⁶ condia/ml). Entomopathogenic fungi reduced the copper levels in soil to some extent. Highest percent reduction (21.89%) was at T_11, Highest percent reduction (35.09) of 100 ppm copper was recorded with M. anisopliae, 1x10⁶ condia/ml, whereas, B. bassiana (1x10⁶ condia/ml) recorded highest percent reduction (34.05) of 200 ppm copper. There was decrease in protein content of white grub (B. coriacea) with treatments and increase in copper content. Percent corrected mortality was highest (65.13) at T₅. The species was capable of tolerating high concentrations of copper and could be good candidate for planting in copper contaminated soils.