NEMI CHAND RATHORE AND SOBITA SIMON

Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) is an important pest of many economically important crops in Indian subcontinent. Larvae destroy both foliage and fruits of plants. Rapid development of resistance to insecticides has made this insect to acquire status of a key pest.The present study was attempt to control the pest population of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) with an ecosafe entomopathogen Fungus (Beauveria bassiana, Balsamo). When five different concentrations (0.15%, 0.20%, 0.25% , 0.30% and 0.35%) were sprayed against larvae of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner), a dose dependent mortality was observed that went up to 71.07 per cent with highest dose of 035% . Test of Beauveria bassiana on H. armigera revealed per cent mortality significant at 1 and 5 per cent level with different doses. Mortality starts after two to three days of treatment and larval death was generally through various morphological deformities in body parts. The treated larvae died mainly due to spread of fungal infections into different body parts. Severity of infection was evident by development of abnormal body parts, fragile skin, entire body covered by fungal mycelia and formation of intermediate stages indicating that chitin is the main target of fimgal attack.