Note: Effects of plant oils and adhesive stickers on the mycelia growth and conidiation ofVerticillium lecanii, a potential entomopathogen

Oils enhance the efficacy of entomopathogens used as augmentative biological control agents. The effect of cheap and commonly available various plant oils,viz., sunflower oil, neem oil, pongamia oil, castor oil, gingili oil, coconut oil, groundnut oil, and the adhesive stickers laboline and Triton-X100, onVerticillium lecanii, an entomopathogen recommended for the control of major sucking pests of horticultural importance, was studied. The first four oils screened, significantly enhanced mycelia growth and conidiation. Gingili oil, coconut oil, groundnut oil and Triton-X100 were found to be poor carriers ofV. lecanii in relation to mycelia growth and conidiation. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 14, 2005.