Potentiality of Novel Strain of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metarhizium anisopliae Strain DULS TTRA) against Odontotermes obesus, A Pest of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze

Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) is an important termite pest of tea of North East India. The current study shows that a novel strain of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metarhizium anisopliae strain DULS TTRA, Accession no. KT 119358) a tea soil fungus is highly pathogenic to both worker and soldier caste of Odontotermes obesus in in-vitro condition. Efficacy of the experimental fungi further assessed by comparing with commercial formulation showed to have less LT50 and LC50 than the established virulent strain. We recommend the strain as a potential bio-control candidate against Odontotermes obesus.