Natural incidence of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin on South American tomato moth, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) from India

South American tomato moth, Tuta absoluta is one of the major destructive invasive pest globally. The pest was reported from India during 2014 and is spreading to various states very rapidly causing extensive damage on solanaceous crops, particularly on tomato. Natural incidence of green muscardine fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae infecting T. absoluta larva on tomato was observed for the first time in India causing up to 35 % mortality. A laboratory study was carried out to assess the pathogenicity and effectiveness of M. anisopliae against T. absoluta during 2016-17, using the leaf immersion method. Hundred per cent mortality was recorded at a concentration of 1x109spores/ml at 120 hours after treatment with LC50of 9.03×105spores/ml