Synergistic insecticidal efficacy of Beauveria bassiana with silver nanoparticles against Bihar hairy caterpillar (Spilarctia obliqua) infestinggreen gram (Vigna radiata)

SOURABH  MAHESHWARI; J P  PURWAR; SNEH  GAUTAM

doi:10.56093/ijas.v96i8.162696

Authors

SOURABH MAHESHWARI Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand 263 145, India
J P PURWAR Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand 263 145, India
SNEH GAUTAM Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand 263 145, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v96i8.162696

Keywords:

Defoliator pest, Nano-biocontrol combinations, Sustainable pest management

Abstract

Bihar hairy caterpillar [Spilarctia obliqua (Walker)], a voracious defoliator of green gram, inflicts significant economic losses in pulse production. Biocontrol agents such as entomopathogenic fungi provide a sustainable alternative for managing defoliating pests; however, their efficacy often falls short when compared to chemical insecticides. To maximise their biocontrol potential, this study was designed to assess the nano-biocontrol combination between the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and biosynthesised silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against S. obliqua in green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek]. The study was carried out during 2023 at College of Agriculture, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. Different AgNPs concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 ppm) with and without B. bassiana were evaluated including control. Laboratory assays confirmed that AgNPs up to 10 ppm inhibited less than 50% growth of B. bassiana according to Hassan’s toxicity classification index, inferring mutual compatibility. The nano-biocontrol combination of B. bassiana (6.1 × 10⁸ conidia/ mL) with AgNPs (40 ppm) attained LC₅₀ value of 11.16 ppm and LT₅₀ of 77.31 h, demonstrating 2.85-fold higher toxicity than AgNPs alone (LC₅₀: 31.90 ppm; LT₅₀: 106.31 h) against S. obliqua. Under nethouse conditions, this combination achieved 100% mortality of S. obliqua by the 8^th day after treatment on green gram plants. The findings suggest that nano-biocontrol combinations have the potential to improve efficacy of microbial biocontrol agents and contribute to the sustainable management of insect-pests.

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