author(s)
Raghunandan BL, Godhani PH, Patel MV, Patel NM and Mehta DM

abstract
A field experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy of different microbial biopesticides against major sucking pests of Bt cotton at agronomy farm, B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University. Anand (Gujarat) during three successive years (2014-15 to 2016-17).The population of sucking pests viz., aphid, jassid, whitefly and thrips reduced significantly in the plots treated with microbial biopesticide Lecanicillium lecanii @ 4g/l and Beauveria bassiana @ @ 4g/l. Enhancement of natural enemies of cotton pests viz., chrysopids, coccinellids, geocoris bug and spiders was registered due to microbial biopesticides have been found ultimately suppressed the pest complex and thereby reflected on seed cotton yield. The present study signifies the importance of microbial biopesticides for eco-friendly and sustainable pest management indicating their potential utility in supplementing the integrated pest management strategies of Bt cotton.