Compatibility of entomopathogenic fungi with insecticides and their efficacy for IPM of Bemisia tabaci in cotton.

Bemisia tabaci, a vector of cotton leaf curl virus disease, is among the most devastating pests causing huge economic losses due to reduced cotton yield and quality. The excessive use of chemical pesticides causes insecticide resistance. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) have a role as mycoinsecticides. The combined use of these insecticides is a promising pest-control option to minimize adverse chemical effects. Thus, we have evaluated 10 EPFs under polyhouse conditions for their virulence against whitefly nymphs and their compatibility with chemical and botanical insecticides. The highest overall biological efficacy index was recorded with Ij-102, followed by Bb-4511, and Ij-089. An in vitro compatibility study was conducted to evaluate the effect of botanical and chemical pesticides on mycelial growth and spore production using the poisoned food technique. The effect of pesticides on the reduction of mycelial growth and conidial production ranged from -169 to 94.1% and -25.6 to 87.6%, respectively. However, Ij-089, Ij-102, Ma-1299, and Bb-4511 were found to be the most compatible with the chemical and botanicals evaluated. Comparatively, spiromesifen, diafenthiuron, buprofezin, pyriproxyfen, and flonicamid were more compatible with EPFs at half doses, as compared to the other chemical pesticides, namely imidacloprid, fipronil, profenophos, and triazophos. These results might provide the basis for future work and indicate that applications of EPFs showing the best virulence and compatibility have the maximum likelihood for the management of B. tabaci in the field in an integrated pest management system.