Compatibility of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae with selective pesticides

The present investigation was conducted to test the toxicological impact of chemical pesticides on entomopathogenic fungus. This study reports the in-vitro toxicity of six insecticides (Profenophos 50% EC, Chlorantraniliprole 18.5%SC, Lambda cyhalothrin 4.9% CS, Novaluron 10% EC, Emamectin benzoate 5% WG, Indoxacarb 15.8% EC), four fungicides (Mancozeb 75% WP, Carbendazim 50% WP, Propiconazole 25% EC and Hexaconazole 5% EC) at different concentration for their effect on growth, inhibitory or synergistic effects and spore germination of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae by growing them on insecticides and fungicides treated media. Profenophos 50% EC was the most toxic insecticide to the linear growth, percent inhibition and spore germination. Some lower concentration (0.50.25) were found to be safe for B. bassiana only. Chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC was found compatible with B. bassiana. Where as in M. anisopliae at different concentration (0.6, 0.3, 0.15, 0.075%) showed detrimental effect on spore germination whereas only at lowest conc. (0.037%), 76.00 percent spore germination was observed. Whereas other Insecticides like Lambda cyhalothrin 4.9% CS, Novaluron 10% EC, Emamectin benzoate 5% WG, Indoxacarb 15.8% EC were found to be compatible with B. bassiana and M. anisopliae. Among all fungicides tested only Mancozeb75% WP proved safe up to some extent at lower concentrations (0.5 and 0.25%) to test fungi with average amount of spore germination, whereas Carbendazim 50% WP, Hexaconazole 5% EC and Propiconazole 25% EC were completely inhibitory in its action at all the concentrations.