The range of the disease index was grouped into four types as 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% depending upon the damage caused to the leaves. The disease index was calculated to evaluate the

damage GSI-IX caused to the leaves and know the severity of the problem caused by the larvae. Turmeric leaves (5 g) were collected from all experimental plots and ground separately with 80% aqueous acetone using a chilled pestle and mortar. The aqueous layer was transferred to a clean test tube. The process was repeated until the residue turned into pale white. The acetone layer with chlorophyll and carotenoid contents was made up to known volume, and these contents were determined using a UV–VIS Spectrophotometer (Hitachi, Japan).11 Freshly plucked turmeric leaves were used for estimating other biochemical constituents such as total sugars,12 nitrogen,13 protein,14 amino acids,15 polyphenols16 and catechin17 contents. Since the leaves of plants

are a potent source of photosynthesis, all physiological observations were restricted to these leaves. Net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr) and stomatal conductance (Sc) were measured using portable infrared gas analyzer (ADC LCA-3, UK) and an open type Parkinson leaf chamber (ADC PLC-3) under field condition without detaching the leaves. Water use efficiency was calculated from the ratio between net Pn rate and Tr rate as per the method of.18 Secondary metabolites from H. citriformis was extracted following. 19 Metabolites were extracted through solvent extraction method into ethyl acetate Verteporfin cell line at the ratio of 4:1 (v/v) and were subjected to GC–MS analysis. The analysis was carried with GC Clarus 500 Perkin Elmer equipment. The means of all data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the means of the data including Megestrol Acetate the standard error (SE) was segregated by critical difference (CD) at various levels of significance (CV) was calculated for the assessment of disease incidence.20 The in vitro mortality of U. folus is presented in Fig. 1. It is evident that the death rate of the pest increased as the day’s progress and the maximum

death of the larvae was recorded in H. citriformis (5) followed by M. anisopliae (4.67) both being observed in the fourth instar larvae. Among the fungi tested, B. bassiana was found to be least effective. Yet it showed a mortality of 3.67 on day 5 in 4th instar larvae. The results of the field trials (Table 1) revealed a significant mortality of U. folus by H. citriformis and M. anisopliae. Mortality of the larvae started on the 3 DAT (days after treatment) and showed a stage related response. Among the fungal isolates tested, H. citriformis registered the maximum mortality of about 8.33 followed by M. anisopliae which was about 6. When compared with the standard MTCC culture, the isolate from mycosed larva was on par. Both caused similar pest mortality and it was more in the fifth instar larvae on 7th DAT.