Efficacy of biopesticides on aphids, Aphis craccivora infesting groundnut

Abstract

Groundnut holds a significant position in India as an oilseed crop, ranking first in terms of area and second in terms of production compared to soybean; and is subjected to pests’ attacks which reduce its yield and profitability of farmers. The field trial was conducted in kharif 2021 at Instructional farm, Junagadh agricultural university, Junagadh, Gujarat, India to evaluate 6 biopesticides namely, Nomuraea rileyi (Faolow) Samson 1.15 WP, Beauveria bassiana 1.15 WP, Metarhizium anisopliae 1.15 WP, Lecanicillium lecanii 1.15 WP, Bacillus thuringiensis 1 WG and Azardiractin 0.15% W/W. The objective was to determine their efficacy against Aphids Aphis craccivora. The overall data revealed that Lecanicillium lecanii 1.15 WP was the most effective treatment (51.24% corrected percent mortality) for supressing the aphid population which was followed by Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuilemin 1.15 WP (48.83% corrected percent mortality) and Metarhizium anisopliae 1.15 WP (47.78% corrected percent mortality). The Azardiractin 0.15% W/W (42.51% corrected percent mortality) was moderately effective. The less effective biopesticides were Bacillus thuringiensis 1 WG (27.84% corrected percent mortality) and Nomuraea rileyi (Faolow) Samson 1.15 WP (15.28% corrected percent mortality).