Efficacy of different entomopathogenic fungi on biological parameters of pulse beetle Callosobruchus chinensis L. (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)
Basir Ali Khan, Shoaib Freed, Junaid Zafar, Muzammil Farooq, Rana Fartab Shoukat, Kanwar Waqas Ahmad, Shuzhong Li, Yuxin Zhang, Yanyan Hua and Rana Farjad Shoukat
Pulses are important stored grain products having a rich source of protein and of great value for developing countries like Pakistan who hardly afford animal protein in adequate quantities. The pulse seeds during storage are prone to insect attack and due to residual effect of pesticides biocontrol agents especially entomopathogenic pathogenic fungi are encouraged for control of Callosobruchus chinensis. In the current study, Metarhizium anisopliae showed 92.50%, Beauveria bassiana 87.50% and Isaria fumosorosea 80.0% mortality of Callosobruchus chinensis. The sublethal dose of fungus negatively affected the surviving adults irrespective of their sex difference. A considerable decrease in egg hatching (68.19%), reduced adult emergence (65.20%) and prolonged larval-pupal period (23.40) (days) was observed.