EFFICACY OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI Beauveria bassiana AS BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS OF INSECT PESTS OF OKRA (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)
Keywords:
Okra, Beauveria bassiana, Lambda-cyhalothrin, insect pests, fruit yieldAbstract
Okra production is greatly hampered by numerous insect pest infestations during the various stages of its growth, resulting in poor yield. The study, therefore, aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Beauveria bassiana in controlling insect pests and improving yield of two okra varieties under field conditions at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, during 2021 and 2022. The experiment was laid out in 2 × 3 factorial fitted into randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The factors were okra varieties (Jokoso and V35) and spraying regime (B. bassiana (1.25 kg in 500 liters of water to form a concentration of 2 x 108 CFU/gm min), lambda-cyhalothrin (25 g a.i/ha) and No spray - control). Application of B. bassiana significantly reduced the population densities of insect pests on okra, regardless of the variety or planting seasons. Okra plants treated with B. bassiana exhibited significantly lower leaf and fruit damage compared to untreated plants. Levels of leaf and fruit damage in B. bassiana and lambda-cyhalothrin-treated plots were similar across both okra varieties and planting seasons. Application of B. bassiana led to a five-times increase in fruit yield compared to untreated plants in 2021 and a three-times increase in 2022 but similar to lambda-cyhalothrin-treated plots in both years. Insect pest populations displayed a significant positive correlation with leaf and fruit damage, while no negative effects on agronomic traits or proximate composition were observed. Application of B. bassiana effectively reduced infestation of insect pests, minimized damage, and enhanced fruit yield in okra without adversely affecting its agronomic traits. Based on these findings, B. bassiana can be used as a substitute for synthetic chemicals and can therefore form an integral component of integrated pest management strategies for okra cultivation.
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