MANJULA, KMENAKA KANNAIYAN2018-05-152018-05-152016http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810045622D5335Eight agricultural substrates were evaluated for the growth and sporulation of Nomuraea rileyi in the Department of Entomology, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati during 2015-16. Sorghum and bajra substrates recorded comparatively higher sporulation of 2.4 × 109 spores gm-1 and 2.1 × 109 spores gm-1and they were selected as the best substrates for the preparation of formulations. Radish, cluster beans and minipotato bits yielded 1.5 × 109 spores gm-1, 0.7 × 109 spores gm-1 and 0.9 × 109 spores gm-1 respectively. Citrus peel powder, groundnut shell powder and maize straw bits recorded nil sporulation of N.rileyi. Dry formulations with carriers such as talc, charcoal, corn flour, soybean flour and oil formulations with sunflower oil, groundnut oil, mustard oil, liquid paraffin, baby oil and heavy grade mineral oil were prepared with the sorghum and bajra substrate- spore mix. The formulations were stored at 22ºC for the evaluation at intervals. xiii Among the dry and oil formulations prepared from sorghum substrate- spore mix at the concentration of 105 spores ml-1, talc and liquid paraffin recorded highest viability after 180 days of storage from 55-58 per cent followed by heavy grade mineral oil formulation and baby oil formulation (53-57 per cent). Charcoal, corn flour, soybean flour, sunflower oil, groundnut oil and mustard oil formulations retained the viability of spores from 40-50 per cent. When the formulations were tested for the virulence of N.rileyi against the third instar S.litura larvae at ten days interval upto 6 months, talc and liquid paraffin formulations resulted in giving higher mortalities at 1× 108 spores ml-1 concentration (60 -75 per cent of larval mortalities). The mortalities gradually reduced with the duration of the storage. At six months after storage, 17-26 per cent larval mortalities were obtained in the above two formulations with the concentration ranging from 1× 108 to 1× 105 spores ml-1. The next best formulation was heavy grade mineral oil. Comparatively low mortalities were obtained with mustard oil and groundnut oil. Among the dry formulations, talc was superior in maintaining the viability and virulence of N.rileyi. Mineral oils i.e. liquid paraffin, heavy grade mineral oil and baby oil were found suitable and selected for N.rileyi storage.en-USnullThesis