Among the various concentrations of sugarcane molasses tested, three to six per cent molasses was found
to be highly suitable for the radial growth, biomass production and spore production of Beauveria bassiana.
Different concentrations of spent wash, a waste product from sugar factories, tested for the growth and
spore production of B. bassiana did not support any fungal growth. Among the grains and tubers tested,
mycelial dry weight of the fungus was maximum in rice (0.67 x 10 TM g/100 ml) followed by sorghum (0.64
x 101~ g/100 ml), whereas spore production of B. bassiana was significantly higher in chopped carrots
(2.08 x 10 TM spores/100 g), tapioca (1.74 x 10 TM spores/100 g) and potato (1.67 x 10 TM spores/100 g)
compared to PDA medium (1.45 x 10 TM spores/100 ml). Among the agricultural byproducts tested, spore
production was found to be high on sugarcane press mud (1.85 x 10 I~ spores/100 g). Among the oil cakes
tested, spore production of B. bassiana was maximum on gingelly cake (5.35 x 101~ spores/100 g) followed
by cotton seed cake (4.31 x 10 t~ spores/100 g) and neem cake (3.80 x 10 l~ spores/100 g).