author(s)
M Visalakshi, Jagadeesh Patil and B Poornesha

abstract
The present study was taken up to assess the efficacy of biocontrol agents for the management of termites in sugarcane ecosystem during 2015-16 and 2016-17. Two entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bassiana NBAIR Bb-5a and Metarhizium anisopliae NBAIR Ma4), two entomopathogenic nematodes (Heterorhabditis indica (NBAII-H38). and Steinernema carpocapsae (NBAII Sc 05), were applied through soil in the furrows at the time of planting three budded sets of sugarcane. During 2015-16, among the treatments tested, soil applications of H. indica (NBAII-H38) @ 12 kg mixed in 150 kg moist soil per hectare proved effective showing 28.02% reduction in termite bud damage, 40.26% reduction in seedling mortality and 37.17% increased yield over untreated control. Similarly, soil application of 2.5 kg of M. anisopliae, (ICAR-NBAIR Ma-4) enriched with 250 kg Farmyard manure per hectare showed 30.55% reduction in bud damage, 56.47% reduction in seedling mortality and 37.05% increased yield over untreated control. During 2016-17, H. indica application resulted in 16.78% reduction in bud damage, 68.02% reduction in seedling mortality and 78.08% increased yield over untreated control. Whereas, M. anisopliae showed 18.63% reduction in bud damage, 31.96% reduction in seedling mortality and 51.3% increased yield over untreated control. B. Bassiana and S. carpocapsae were better than the chlorpyriphos insecticidal/neem cake application in the management of termites in sugarcane crop. Entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis indica (NBAII-H38) and Entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae (NBAIR Ma-4) two times application was effective in reducing bud damage and seedling mortality due to termites resulted in higher germination inturn increased cane yields.