Effects of commercial pesticides against cotton whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn.) and mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch) on growth and conidial germination of two species of entomopathogenic fungi

The influence of nine commercial pesticides on conidial germination and mycelial growth of isaria fumosorosea (wize) brown and smith,and lecanicillium uscarium (zimmerman) viegas were evaluated in vitro. the conidial germination and mycelial growth varied significantly by all tested pesticides depending upon the dose of pesticide and type of fungus. all pesticides inhibited conidial germination as well as mycelial growth significantly. azocyclotin was proved to be highly toxic to germination of spores as well as mycelial growth followed by pyridaben,acetamiprid and propargite while buprofezin was the least toxic. i. fumosorosea proved to be more sensitive (0 - 75 % germination) at field recommended dose than l. muscarium (11 - 95 % germination) to all pesticides. the insecticides,among above mentioned pesticides (buprofezin,imidacloprid and diafenthuron),were more compatible to fungi than acaricides.