Effect of adjuvants on Lecanicillium lecanii against nymphs of Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt) Ritika*, Joshi Neelam**, Sangha K. S.*** *Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, Punjab **Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, Punjab, Email: neelamjoshi_01@pau.edu (corresponding author) ***Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141004, Punjab Online published on 24 October, 2019. Abstract Entomopathogenic fungi Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmerman) Zare and Gams is an important biocontrol agent against aphids. Laboratory studies were undertaken to evaluate different adjuvants viz., glycerol, Ranipal (R), carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) and tween-80 on growth and development of L. lecanii and also evaluate L. lecanii formulation supplemented with these adjuvants against nymphs of Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.). Addition of glycerol @ 5% and 8%, tween-80 @ 0.5% and CMC @ 0.5% to potato dextrose media recorded maximum surface area growth and biomass production of L. lecanii which was at par with each other. Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate formulation of L. lecanii with and without mixture of adjuvants against the nymphs of L. erysimi. Increase in mortality of L. erysimi was recorded with addition of mixture of adjuvants (glycerol @ 8% + tween-80 @) 0.5%). Maximum increase in mortality over control (without adjuvants) (9.80%) was recorded in L. lecanii NIPHM followed by L. lecanii MTCC 956 (7.77%) ten days after treatment. Result of this study demonstrated that L. lecanii formulation when supplemented with adjuvants enhanced growth of L. lecanii and caused maximum mortality of nymphs of L. erysimi. Top Keywords Lecanicillium lecanii, adjuvants, Lipaphis erysimi, efficacy, tween-80, glycerol, carboxy methyl cellulose. growth, development. Top |