Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection (2001) 33, 431-445

Sunday Ekesi, Nguya K. Maniania, Kwesi Ampong-Nyarko and Abubakar D. Akpa (2001)
Importance of timing of application of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae for the control of legume flower thrips, Megalurothrips sjostedti and its persistence on cowpea
Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection 33 (5), 431-445
Abstract: Field experiments were conducted for two seasons to evaluate the timing of application of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae for the control of legume flower thrips, Megalurothrips sjostedti on cowpea. One application of M. unisopliae timed at flower bud stage and another at flowering stage did not protect cowpea yield against M. sjostedti as does chemical insecticide, Karate (Lambda-cyhalothrin). Instead, one application of the fungus given at flower bud stage and two applications given at flowering were required to keep M. sjostedti population in check through these stages, which are very sensitive to thrips damage with a concomitant increase in cowpea yield which was significantly higher than the Karate treatment. Studies of persistence showed that M. anisopliae remained active in the field for 3-4 days.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Kwesi Ampong-Nyarko, Nguya K. Maniania, Sunday Ekesi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
control - general
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
application technology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Megalurothrips sjostedti	Cowpea and relatives (Vigna)
Metarhizium anisopliae (entomopathogen)	Megalurothrips sjostedti