Epizootiology Aerobiology and Utilization of Nomuraea rileyi Farlow Samson In Pest Suppression

Abstract

Investigations on the epizootics, aerobiology, mass production and formulations of newlineNomuraea rileyi were carried out at the main campus of the University of Agricultural newlineSciences, Dharwad during 2000 to 2003. Field experiments in cotton and groundnut were newlinecarried out at Dharwad and Ankola, respectively. newlineMycosis due to N. rileyi prevailed from 28th - 43rd standard week during 2001 attaining newlinepeaks in 33rd and 41st week. During the succeeding year, it prevailed from 27th to 38th week newlinewith peak during 33rd week (19.50%) only. Among the crops observed, epizootic was more in newlinesoybean followed by groundnut. Atmospheric spore load of N. rileyi failed to establish any newlinedefinite relationship with disease incidence. Conidia cultured on SMAY medium lost their newlineviability at a faster rate than those cultured on rice grains when inoculated into soil. newlineMaintenance of high relative humidity reduced the time required for growth and newlinesporulation significantly on broken rice and sorghum with double the spore yields than at 60 to newline70 per cent. Conical flasks and saline bottles proved to be the best containers for mass newlineproduction on solid media, than polypropylene bags. Increase in moisture content and newlinesoaking duration hastened the growth and development and conidial yield. newlineEntomopathogen formulated as wettable powder with rice flour, sorghum flour and newlinetalc retained the viability of spore to around 23 per cent after one year of storage. Wettable newlinepowder formulations could be stored upto 90 days under ambient temperature and 150 days newlineunder refrigerated conditions. Vegetable oils failed to support as storage medium for conidia. newlineNomuraea rileyi based modules failed to abate the larval load and fruiting body newlinedamage compared to IPM and insecticidal modules in cotton. Under coastal agroecology, N. newlinerileyi performed as effective as monocrotophos treatment in reducing larval population of S. newlinelitura and H. armigera and defoliation in groundnut.