Potential of the entomopathogenic fungus, <i>Metarhizium anisopliae s.l</i>. for control of red spider mite, <i>Oligonychus coffeae</i> Nietner on tea crop

The present study evaluates the pathogenic efficacy of an entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. (=M. anisopliae) against red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae damaging tea plants. Laboratory studies revealed that M. was on O. and exhibited 78% mortality. Evaluation formulated 5% aqueous suspension (AS) (1000 ml containing 2 × 107 conidia/ml in 400 L water/ha) through micro-plot a maximum 68.2% reduction mite’s population sprayed plots, as compared to Fenpyroximate (5% EC), where 67.5% recorded. Furthermore, large-scale field trials with entomopathogen 1000 1200 doses 5%AS each water/ha significantly reduced coffeae’s gardens Dooars Darjeeling regions, India. more effective than standard acaricides non-pathogenic beneficial insects gardens. had no phytotoxic effect leaves, acceptable organoleptic attributes. Thus, isolate can be commercialized alternative natural acaricide reduce load synthetic crop.