author(s)
Nithya PR, Manimegalai S, Nakkeeran S, Mohankumar S and Jayarajan Nelson S

abstract
Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is the most serious pest of crucifers, difficult to be managed using a single tactic. Entomopathogenic fungi, being an important component of IPM has been employed for managing this key pest. In the present investigation, two indigenous isolates of Beauveria bassiana were evaluated against second instar larvae of P. xylostella reared under controlled conditions. Bioassay was carried out by leaf dip method with concentrations ranging from 1 x 10⁵ to 1 x 10⁹ conidia/ml. Results of bioassay revealed that among the two isolates of B. bassiana, isolate TM MH590235 registered lowest values of LC₅₀ (2.4 x 10⁷ conidia/ml) and LT₅₀ (3.62 days) compared to the isolate, BR MK918495 and thus can be employed for managing P. xylostella after formulation development and field evaluation.