A Leaf Bioassay Technique for Determining the Conidial Activity of Paecilomyces Spp. against Eligma narcissus Roth

Two common methods to test the efficacy of fungal isolates against insect pests are direct application of fungal spores on to the insect or allowing insects to feed on leaves treated with fungal spores. In the above two methods, it was often difficult to quantify the exact lethal concentration in terms of spores/cm² leaf area. In the present study, a leaf surface bioassay technique has been standardised using two fungal pathogens - Paecilomyces farinosus (Holm: Fr) and F. fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown & Smith, both isolated from the pupae of Eligma narcissus Roth, a serious pest of Ailanthus triphysa Roxb.