The present study was to emphasize entomopathogens in pest management of cash crops over chemical pesticides, optimization of media for growth of Metarhizium anisopliae and bioassay of its different formulations for their efficacy as marketable and easily applicable biopesticide. Metarhizium anisopliae (Order: Hypocreales, Family: Clavicipitaceae) popularly known as green muscardine entomogenous fungi was isolated from soyabean fields of Misrod, Bhopal. Media for optimal growth of fungus were standardized. Its different formulations viz. carrier based powder formulation, oil based formulation and bentonite oil based formulation using homogenizer was prepared. These formulations were bioassay against Helicoverpa armigera (Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Noctuidae), the most destructive pest in soyabean. Bentonite based liquid formulation was observed to be most effective as determined by measuring larval mortality as well as viability of fungal spores and ease of applicability. It will serve to incognizant people educate them about the positive aspects of biopesticides over chemical pesticides used extensively to protect the crops. © 2011 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved
Key words: Biopesticide; Metarhizium anisopliae; Helicoverpa