Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Fungi as Biological Control agent against insect pests of Gossypium hirsutum.

Isolates of Beauveria bassiana , Metarhizium anisoplaie , Verticillium  lecanii and Paeciliomyces lilicuns from Punjab, Pakistan, were evaluated for their inhibitory and insecticidal efficacy against White fly, House fly, American bollworm, Army worm, Spotted worm, Gray weevil, Jassids, Aphids, Ant and moth. Four strains of B. bassiana , two strains of P. lilicuns and one strain of M. anisoplaie and V. lecanii were used. B.bassiana (Bb04) exhibited significant mortality percentage against moth, gray weevil, cotton seed bug white fly, American worm, spotted worm, army worm, house fly, ants, jassids and aphids. Among all the strains of entomopathogenic fungi used, B. bassiana strains Bb01 revealed least mortality percentage against the targeted insect pests. V. lecanii Vl01 strain showed the highest mortality rate against cotton seed bug while it showed least efficiency against spotted worm. M. anisopolie Ma01 showed the highest mortality percentage against moth and showed the minimum results against spotted worm. In case of tested strain of P. lilicuns strains Pl01 and Pl02 displayed the highest mortality percentage against gray weevil, cotton seed bug and showed the minimum results against spotted worm and moth. Key words: Entomopathogenic fungi, Pathogenicity , Cotton pests, White fly, American bollworm, Army worm, Gray weevil