author(s)
PV Rami Reddy, PN Ganga Visalakshy and Abraham Verghese

abstract
Field studies were conducted consecutively for two years at ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru to evaluate the efficacy of two entomopathogenic fungi viz., Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) and Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill against thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood on grapes (cv. Bangalore Blue). The efficacy was assessed in terms of reduction in population of thrips on leaves and extent of berry damage due to thrips and compared with an insecticide (thiamethoxam 25 WG) used as standard check. The results of two year study had clearly showed that entomopathogen, M. anisopliae was significantly effective against thrips. It resulted in 82.27 and 84.24 per cent reduction in thrips population after 14 days of spray in first and second year respectively which was statistically on par with the standard check. Even in terms of berry damage, M. anisopliae offered significant protection from thrips. The findings indicate that M. anisopliae could be an effective and safer component of integrated management of thrips in grapes.