Original Article COMPATIBILITY OF BEAUVERIA BASSIANA (BALS.) VUILL ISOLATES WITH SELECTED INSECTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES AT AGRICULTURE SPRAY TANK DOSE 1 Department of Biotechnology, GIT, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam- India. 2 Department of Microbiology and Food Science & Technology, GIS, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam , India. Email:mmchalla@gmail.com Received: 9 August2014, Revised and Accepted: 24 September 2014 ABSTRACT The effects of six commonly used chemical pesticides in which three are insecticides namely quinolphos, monocrotophos, cypermethrin and three fungicides carbendazim, cooper oxychloride and mancozeb on germination, mycelial growth of thirty isolates of Beauveria bassiana was studied. Except mancozeb all the insecticides and fungicides doesn’t show a significant inhibition effect on the germination of conidia. There was significant inhibition of mycelia growth in few isolates with insecticides as well as fungicides except copper oxychloride. Copper oxychloride promoted the mycelia growth in many isolates where as mancozeb inhibited the mycelia growth of all the isolates tested in the present study. This work suggests that the most appropriate insecticide and fungicides for use in Integrated Pest Management Programs in combination with Beauveria bassiana isolates. It is important to test the compatibility of isolates of entomopathogenic fungi with the pesticides commonly used in IPM programmes. Keywords: entomopathogenic fungi; Beauveria bassiana; Integrated Pest Management; fungicides. INTRODUCTION The introduction of artificial fungal inoculum should remain within the agricultural context for which they are developed. That is they should be integrated into other agrochemical measures for a given crop. An evaluation of effects of chemical pesticides on B. bassiana was taken up to identify tolerant isolates. B. bassiana isolates have been screened for tolerance to the chemical insecticides and fungicides Field efficiency of these fungi is majorly influenced by compatibility with other chemical protection strategies employed. Evaluation of effect of several fungicides on different parameters like germination, growth and virulence of commercially available entomopathogenic fungi are done (Shah et al. 2009). Sensitivity of entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosa to several commercial grade fungicides under in vitro and in vivo has been reported (Alessandro et al. 2011). Study on compatibility of Metarhizium anisopliae and Pacilomyces fumosorosus with selective insecticides has been reported (Ramzan asi et al. 2010). Compatability of Beauveria bassiana isolates with several pesticides by studying the effect on conidial germination, vegetative growth and sporulation. (Alizadeh et al. 2007). Studies on effect of mancozeb and copper oxychloride on growth and sporulation of Metarhizium anisopliae are proved to be highly sensitive to these agrochemicals. Effect of fungicides on Nomuraea rileyi were reported (Sosa- Gomez et al. 2003). In the current investigation therefore, evaluated the effects of selected chemical pesticides (three insecticides and three fungicides) which are commonly used in agriculture fields on the germination and mycelial growth of B. bassiana isolates from locally field infected insects and isolates collected from national and international organizations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Chemical pesticides tested The commercial formulations were used for the compatibility studies instead of the pure active ingredient. Instances in which the adjuvants and carriers in the formulation did affect the entomopathogenic fungus are known (Inglis et al. 2001). Sensitivity was tested at the field recommended concentration of the chemicals. The following insecticides were used in the present study such as organophosphate based formulations quinalphos(0.3%), monocrotophos(0.15%) and synthetic pyrethroid, cypermethrin (0.12%). The commercial formulation of following fungicides are used in the investigation are carbendazim(0.05%), copper oxychloride(0.3%) and mancozeb(0.3%). The conidial germination and mycelia growth bioassays were set up in quadruplicate. Compatibility tests The commercial products, active ingredients, recommended dosage and agricultural spray tank dose of each pesticide used were tested for compatibility with 30 isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Tables1 and 2) collected from various national, international collection centers and few isolates from locally infected insect pests. Germination bioassay Glass slides were sterilized by autoclaving. They were coated with 0.2 ml of molten SDAY medium in a Laminar air flow cabinet and allowed to air dry in the cabinet for 30 min. For each isolate two slides were used one as the control and the other as the test. On the control slide 100l of conidial suspension (10 5 ml -1 ) was deposited with a micropipette (Gilson, Germany). For the test, the test chemical was added to 10 ml of conidial suspension to a concentration at field recommended dose and mixed thoroughly on a vortex mixer. On the test slide 100l of this suspension was dispensed. The slides were placed in moist chambers (Petri dishes (150 mm diameter) lined with moist filter paper). The slides were supported on glass rods in the Petri dish to prevent direct contact with the moist blotting paper and incubated at 25  2 o C for 24h. After incubation, the Petri dish covers were removed and the water droplets formed on the slides were allowed to air dry in a Laminar flow unit. The slides were then stained with lacto phenol cotton blue and examined with an inverted microscope. At least 200 conidia were examined for germination counts on each slide. (Fransen,1995). Conidia producing clearly visible germ tube were considered as germinated. Percent germination of conidia was calculated from these counts (Tables1 and 2). Growth bioassay The effect of the test chemicals on fungal growth was assessed by comparison of growth (as measured from dry mass) of the fungus in Vol 2, Issue 3 , 2014 ISSN: 2321-6832 MURALI MOHAN CHALLA 1* , SANTOSH KUMAR SANIVADA 2