Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar263145, U S Nagar, Uttarakhand, India
*Email: rairavi603@gmail.com (corresponding author)
Amongst entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. is one of the important microbial agents used against insect pests. Biological control using such agents depends on the mass multiplication with suitable media. This study explores a reliable protocol with suitable media to achieve maximum production of biomass, conidial count, and germination. It was observed that broken rice is the best substrate giving maximum biomass, conidia and germination (0.62 g, 10.92x 107 conidia/ ml and 86.94%) followed by sorghum (0.54g, 7.35x 107 conidia/ ml and 77.43%) and maize (0.37g, 6.05x 107 conidia/ ml and 72.44%).
Entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana, Mass multiplication, Broken grains, Rice, Sorghum, Maize, Conidial count, Germination, Biomass