STUDIES ON THE ENDOPHYTIC PROPERTIES OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) AGAINST BANANA PSEUDOSTEM WEEVIL, Odoiporous longicollis (Oliv.)

PRABHAVATHI, M K

STUDIES ON THE ENDOPHYTIC PROPERTIES OF ENTOMOPATHOGENIC FUNGI, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) AGAINST BANANA PSEUDOSTEM WEEVIL, Odoiporous longicollis (Oliv.)

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Date

41124

Authors

PRABHAVATHI, M K

Publisher

University of Agricultural Sciences GKVK, Bangalore

Abstract

Banana (Musaceae) is an important fruit crop commonly grown in tropical and subtropical parts of the world (Tiwari et al., 2006). It is the fourth most important crop after rice, wheat and maize (INIBAB, 2000; Padmanaban et al., 2001). Out of the 40 million tonnes of fruits produced in India, banana occupies the number one position with an annual output of 14.0 MT 4, 00,000 ha (Osmark, 1974 and Nahif et al., 2003). Musa species is cultivated in a wide range of environments and have varied human uses, ranging from the edible bananas and plantains of the tropics to cold-hardy fibre and ornamental plants. Banana is a staple food of the human diet since the dawn of the recorded history. Banana is high in vitamin B6, which helps fight infection and is essential for the synthesis of iron containing part of haemoglobin. They are also rich in potassium and are a great source of fibre. In recent years, considering the adverse impact of indiscriminate use of chemicals, new trend for organic production of banana is increasing in the country. A new name, i.e. "Green Foods" has been coined. Various insect pests, diseases and nematodes hinder the production of banana. Of them, insect pests play a major role in reducing its yield and quality. More than 180 species of insect pests have been recorded on banana world over (Simmonds, 1966), out of which 30 species infest banana in India (Wadhi and Batri, 1964). Nineteen species infest banana in India ( Padmanaban et al., 2002a). Among the insect pests of banana, the pseudostem weevil Odoiporus longicollis (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is one of the serious, monophagous pest (Padmanaban and Sathiamoorthy, 2001) limiting the production and productivity of bananas (Visalakshi et al., 1989).