EFFECT OF CERTAIN INSECTICIDES ON ENTOMOGENOUS FUNGI BEAUVERIA BASSIANA AND METARRHIZIUM ANISOPLIAE

Testing the effect of Dimecron, Folidol, DDT, Malathion, Endrin, and BHC [benzene hexachloride], at 0.04%, 0.05%, 0.06%, 0.1%, and 0.5% on the development of the fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarrhizium anisopliae compared to controls indicated that BHC 50% WP was the most toxic. It inhibited the growth of both fungi in all concentrations: Dimecron 100% was the most innocuous. The other insecticides had varying effects on the 2 fungi. Endrin, DDT, Malathion, and Folidol were inhibitory in the order mentioned. Different concentrations of insecticides had different effects on the growth and sporulations of the fungi, and the 2 fungi also reacted differently to the same insecticide. [These fungi are important in the control of insect pests.].