Influence of Storage Conditions on Viability and Infectivity of talc based WP Formulation of Beauveria bassiana Against Rice Hispa, Dicladispa armigera (Olivier)

Abstract

Shelf life of talc based wettable powder formulation of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. was evaluated at room temperature (24±1°C), refrigerated condition (4°C) and in deep freeze condition (–4°C to –6°C). At room temperature, viability of conidia lasted up to 180 days with 20.22×10⁷ conidia/gm, having 48% pathogenicity, whereas under refrigeration the same lasted for 210 days having the same conidial density but with 69.45% pathogenicity; under deep refrigeration, though viability lasted for 300 days with same conidial load, but substantially reduced pathogenicity to 20%.