21 Kas 2024 Perşembe
Control of flea beetle Podagrica spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) (L.) Moench
Abstract :The
effectiveness of entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria
bassiana atcontrolling
infestation of Podagrica spp. in okra
field was evaluated at a low-land farm (FADAMA) and University Farms site of
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State in 2014 late and 2015
early planting seasons respectively. The experiment was laid out in a split
plot arrangement fitted into Randomized Complete Block Design. The main plot
consisted of two flea beetle susceptible okra varieties (NH99/DA and
LD88/1-8-5-2) and sub-treatment was the spray regime (B. bassiana and
Lambda-cyhalothrin). The control was the unsprayed okra plots. The isolate of
Botanigard 22WP- Beauveria bassiana strain GHA was mixed with water in a knapsack sprayer and
applied to the leaves of okra plants from 2 WAP at 3.57g/1.5L of water and
repeated at weekly interval for 6 weeks. Lambda-cyhalothrin, a synthetic
insecticide which served as a check was mixed with water in a knapsack sprayer
at 0.5ml/0.96L of water and repeated at weekly interval. The Na, Cu, Ca, Mg, P,
Fe, K and proximate composition of B.
bassiana-treated and untreated okra fruits were determined.Irrespective of season, number of flea beetles per
plant, percentage of damaged leaves and pods in B. bassiana-treated okra plots were comparable to the ones from
okra plants treated with lambda-cyhalothrin. They were however, significantly
(P<0.05) lower to the ones from untreated okra plots. The fruit yield from
plots treated with B. bassiana and
lambda-cyhalothrin were comparable (P>0.05) and significantly (P<0.05)
higher than the yield from the untreated plots. The proximate composition and
minerals evaluated in B. bassiana-treated
okra fruit were not significantly different (P>0.05) from the composition of
untreated okra fruits The study concluded that entomopathogenic fungus, B. bassiana reduced the number of Podagrica spp. in treated okra plants
and enhanced yield. The use of the treatment is therefore recommended for the
control of Podagrica spp. in okra
field
Entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria
bassiana, Podagrica spp., lambda-cyhalothrin, proximate composition