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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur
The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively.
Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively.
On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs.
In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc.
During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU).
Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.
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ThesisItem Open Access Pesticide use pattern and monitoring of residues in cardamom in Idukki district(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2013) Seena, S M; KAU; Naseema Beevi, SThe field survey conducted among the farmers of Idukki district revealed that major pest infesting cardamom were shoot and capsule borer and cardamom thrips. For the timely management of these pests, farmers are following strict plant protection measures at an interval of 15 to 40 days with conventional insecticides. Farmers are widely applying heavy doses of chemicals especially the organophosphorus insecticides like phorate, chlorpyriphos, quinalphos, profenophos, methyl parathion and synthetic pyrethroids like cypermethrin and lambda cyhalothrin. Majority of the farmers resort to prophylactic spraying of plant protection chemicals rather than remedial measures. Adoption of IPM strategies are also negligible. Most of the farmers used their own spraying schedules for pest management. The pesticide use pattern in cardamom growing tracts of Idukki district shows that the farmers are applying plant protection chemicals aggressively and the liberal and continual use of pesticides has disturbing consequences on the ecosystem. In multiresidue mehod validation cardamom samples were spiked at five different levels viz. 0.01 µg g-1, 0.05 µg g-1 , 0.10 µg g-1 0.50 µg g-1 and 1 µg g-1 and extraction was carried out using various solvent/ solvent system and the modified QuEChERS method which gave 69.7–110% per cent recovery with RSD < 20 was selected and the same method was adopted for the estimation of pesticide residues from cardamom samples. In order to assess the residue level and to study the extend of contamination due to pesticides in cardamom, samples were collected from the cardamom growing plantations of Idukki district. Three major cardamom growing zones were selected namely Vandanmedu, Udumbanchola and Poopara in Idukki district and ten samples were collected from each location for a period of six months. Data on monitoring of pesticide residues in cardamom samples collected from the study regions for a period of six months revealed varying level of residues of several pesticides. Out of the total 180 samples analyzed, residues were detected in 173 samples and only seven samples were free of residues. Out of the 173 samples detected with pesticide residues, 160 contained multiple residues of pesticides whereas only 13 contained residues of single pesticide. Cardamom capsules contained residues of 16 different pesticide molecules belonging to organochlorines, organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids. The most common contaminant was quinalphos which was detected in 121 out of 180 samples analysed. Other major contaminants include lambda cyhalothrin (104), cypermethrin (100), chlorpyriphos (87) and profenophos (64). Pesticides detected in cardamom which have no label claim in cardamom include Beta cyfluthrin (5), bifenthrin (3), fenpropathrin (4), fenvalerate (5), lambda cyhalothrin (104), methyl parathion (64) and triazophos (4) . A field experiment was carried out in order to study the curing process on removal of residues of quinalphos, chlorpyriphos, triazophos, cypermethrin, lambda cyhalothrin and imidacloprid. Curing process removed the residues of pesticides at varying levels. Processing factor was worked out for each chemical. Extent of removal of residues as a result of curing were: quinalphos (61.78-67.78%), chlorpyriphos (70.23-76.66%), triazophos (49.62-55.02%), cypermethrin (65.71-67.63%), lambda cyhalothrin (13.15-40.00%) and imidacloprid (75.56-77.32%).ThesisItem Open Access Eco - Friendly management strategies against pod borer complex of Cowpea vigna unguiculata var.sesquiedalis (L) Verdcourt(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2013) Subhasree, S; KAU; Maicykutty Mathew, PThe investigations on “Eco-friendly management strategies against pod borer complex of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata var. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdcourt” was taken up at Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during October 2012 to January 2013. The short duration bushy variety of cowpea, Bhagyalakshmi susceptible to pod borers was used for the study. The experiment aimed at, evaluating the efficacy of a botanical viz., azadirachtin (0.005%), bioagents viz., Beauveria bassiana (1%), Metarhizium anisopliae (1%), Bacillus thuringiensis (0.2%) along with their sequential application (azadirachtin followed by B. bassiana, azadirachtin followed by M. anisopliae, azadirachtin followed by B. thuringiensis), a safer chemical viz., flubendiamide 480SC (0.008%) and a standard check (quinalphos 0.05%) against pod borer complex of cowpea under field conditions, studying the species composition of pod borer complex of cowpea and the natural enemies associated with them. Considering the three consecutive sprays at fortnightly intervals starting from flowering, flubendiamide was found to be highly effective in managing the larval population of pod borers compared to azadirachtin and bioagents. A single application of the same reduced the population of pod borers significantly. In the case of quinalphos the population of pod borers showed a decreasing trend up to seven days after each spraying and increased thereafter. Azadirachtin, M. anisopliae and B. thuringiensis recorded larval population below economic threshold level starting from 14th day after first spraying till the end of cropping period. With respect to per cent pod damage (in terms of number and weight) flubendiamide was found to be significantly superior over control and all other treatments were on par. Though quinalphos recorded the highest total yield both in terms of weight and number, application of flubendiamide resulted in the highest number of marketable pods. The total yield recorded in terms of weight was higher in B. thuringiensis than other bioagents. Azadirachtin followed by B. thuringiensis application resulted in high marketable yield among bioagents and botanical, followed by B. bassiana and were on par with the two chemical insecticides. Flubendiamide recorded the highest B: C ratio followed by quinalphos. Among the bioagents B. bassiana recorded a B: C ratio next to quinalphos and was followed by B. thuringiensis, azadirachtin followed by B. thuringiensis and M. anisopliae. Two species of pod borers were recorded on cowpea viz., spotted pod borer (Maruca vitrata) and pea blue butterfly (Lampides boeticus). M. vitrata was the major species of pod borer under Vellanikkara conditions compared to L. boeticus. The population of L. boeticus increased when there were more pods in the field compared to flowers. Two species of hymenopteran larval parasitoids belonging to the family Braconidae observed on M. vitrata were Apanteles sp. and Phanerotoma sp.ThesisItem Open Access Efficacy and biosafety of new generation insecticides for the management of fruit borers of cowpea, brinjal and okra(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2013) Vijayasree, V; KAU; Hebsy BaiThe investigation on the “Efficacy and biosafety of new generation insecticides for the management of fruit borers of cowpea, brinjal and okra” was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 2010-2013. The objectives were to evaluate the efficacy of new generation insecticides against the fruit borers of cowpea, brinjal and okra, assess their safety to entomopathogenic fungi, determine their persistence and degradation and standardize methods to decontaminate the residues on the fruits. The studies were conducted with eight new generation insecticides viz., emamectin benzoate 5SG @10 g a.i. ha-1, spinosad 45 SC @ 75 g a.i. ha-1, novaluron 10 EC @ 100 g a.i. ha-1, chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 30 g a.i. ha-1, indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 60 g a.i. ha-1, fipronil 80 WG @ 50 g a.i. ha-1, thiodicarb 75 WP @ 750 g a.i. ha-1 and flubendiamide 480 SC @ 100 g a.i. ha-1 . Two conventional insecticides (carbaryl 50 WP @ 750 g a.i. ha-1 and malathion 50 EC @ 500 g a.i. ha-1) and an untreated control were maintained as check. Laboratory screening of the insecticidesagainst Maruca vitrata, Leucinodes orbonalis and Earias vitella, indicated high mortality of the pests one and three days after treatment with a subsequent decline in the mortality. The insecticides were on par in their efficacy. All the new generation insecticides reduced the pest infestation on the vegetables significantly in the field. The reduction in the flower and pod damages in cowpea ranged from 53.97 to 76.86 and 63.69 to 84.82 per cent, respectively. Damages to brinjal and okra fruits were reduced by 45.96 to 72.21 per cent and 44.34 to 83.26 per cent, respectively. Chlorantraniliprole, indoxacarb and emamectin benzoate which recorded more than 70 and 80 per cent reduction in flower and pod damages in cowpea, chlorantraniliprole, indoxacarb, emamectin benzoate and flubendiamide with more than 60 per cent reduction in fruit damage in brinjal, and chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide and indoxacarb with more than 70 per cent reduction in fruit damage in okra were superior. The yield was also significantly high in these treatments in the three crops. Prophylactic sprays with neem seed kernel extract 5 % at flower bud initiation and after a fortnight, decreased the population of the pod borer of cowpea remarkably. Subsequently, one spray of the insecticides sufficed to check the pest. All the insecticides were compatible with Beauveria bassiana and Metarrhiziumanisopliae. Flubendiamide and carbaryl inhibited the growth of Lecanicillium lecanii. Chlorantraniliprole with a waiting period of one day in all the three vegetables was the safest insecticide. The other insecticides with waiting periodswithin the harvest intervals of the crops were spinosad (1day), emamectin benzoate (3 days) and flubendiamide (3 days) in cowpea, indoxacarb (1day), spinosad (1day) and emamectin benzoate (4 days) in brinjal and indoxacarb (2 days) and thiodicarb (2 days) in okra. Immersing insecticide treated fruits in slaked lime 2%, turmeric 1 %, vinegar 2% or tamarind 2% solution for twenty minutes followed by washing in water and scrubbing which removed more than 60 per cent residues of most of the insecticides were the effective decontaminating methods for the new generation insecticides. Considering the efficacy of the insecticides against the pests, associated yield increase, benefit cost ratio of the insecticide treatments, waiting period and compatibility with bio agents, chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 30 g a.i. ha-1, indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 60 g a.i. ha-1 and emamectin benzoate 5SG @10 g a.i. ha-1 were adjudged as the potential insecticides against the fruit borers of cowpea, brinjal and okra.ThesisItem Open Access Monitoring and decontamination of pesticide residues in agricultural commodities(Department of agricultural entomology, College of agriculture, Vellayani, 2013) Pallavi Nair, K; KAU; Thomas Biju, MathewThe present investigation on “Monitoring and decontamination of pesticide residues in agricultural commodities” was conducted at the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2011 - 2013. The objectives were to monitor the pesticide residues in agricultural commodities like rice, wheat, rice flour, wheat flour (atta and maida), cardamom, cumin seed, capsicum, okra and curry leaf and to standardize techniques for decontamination. Multi Residue Methods (MRM) for pesticide residue analysis in rice flour, wheat flour (atta and maida), rice, wheat, cardamom, cumin seed, capsicum, okra and curry leaf were validated by conducting recovery studies. Five important validation parameters viz., limit of detection, linearity, limit of quantification, recovery and repeatability were established. Data on monitoring of pesticide residues in agricultural commodity revealed that none of the rice flour, atta, maida, raw rice and parboiled rice samples showed the presence of pesticide residues. However, all the cardamom, cumin seed and curry leaf samples showed presence of multiple pesticide residues at varying levels. Basmathi rice (5 samples), wheat (5 samples), capsicum (3 samples) and okra (2 samples) showed the presence of pesticide residues. Based on the monitoring data, six insecticides viz., malathion, methyl parathion, chlorpyriphos, quinalphos, cypermethrin and fenvalerate were selected for assessing the effect of washing, soaking and cooking on the removal of insecticide residues in rice and washing, drying and milling on the removal of insecticide residues in wheat at five hours and two weeks after insecticide spraying. Out of different processing techniques studied, four washings in tap water for two minutes along with rubbing of grains followed by cooking removed maximum amount of residues (88.36 - 98.63 %) and four washings in tap water for two minutes along with rubbing of grains removed maximum amount of residues (51.09 - 75.67 %) in wheat. In order to assess the effect of decortication on removal of insecticide residues, cardamom samples with presence of more than one insecticide were subjected to decortication. It may be seen that most of the detected residues remained on the surface of capsule cover and highly systemic insecticides like profenophos had penetrated into the seed. In order to standardize a decontaminating solution of household product an experiment was conducted with seven treatments and three replications. Among the decontamination methods adopted to reduce the insecticide residues in vegetables, dipping in 2 % tamarind for 15 minutes was the best treatment to eliminate residues from okra (37.28 - 80.37 %) and curry leaf (38.70 - 98.05 %) whereas dipping in 2 % vinegar solution was the best for decontaminating capsicum (31.18 - 74.88 %). It may be concluded that the efficiency of decontaminating treatments depend on the chemistry of pesticide molecule, age of the pesticide residue and the surface character of the commodity.ThesisItem Open Access Pests of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L var.capitata) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.var.botrytis) and their management(Department of agricultural entomology, College of agriculture, Vellayani, 2013) Ravi, G B; KAU; Reji Rani, O PInvestigations on “Pests of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) and their management” were carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2011-13. The main objective of the work was to identify the pests and natural enemies associated with cabbage and cauliflower and to evolve pest management strategies. Analysis of pest fauna in cabbage and cauliflower revealed that the crops were attacked by eighteen pest species. The occurrence of pierid butterfly Appias lyncida Cramer on cruciferous crops is reported for the first time. The key pest affecting the crop grown in plains was the cut worm Spodptera litura (Fabricius) and in the hilly tracts it was Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus). Damage caused by S. litura was 30% in cabbage and cauliflower and that by P. xylostella was 38% to heads and 26 % to curds. Two coccinellid predators Chilomenes sexmaculata Fabr. and Coccinella transversallis Fabricius and the syrphid, Ischiodon scutellaris Fabricius were identified from the colonies of aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach). One parasitoid, Protapanteles sp. was identified from larvae of Plusia signata Fab. Further investigations were focused on S. litura, the major pest in plains. Detailed studies on biology of the pest revealed high fecundity and survival percentage of all the life satges (80 -100), favouring high feeding potential and rapid buildup of population. S. litura incidence in cabbage reached the peak level at head fill stage (13WAP) in cabbage and in cauliflower the peak was observed at curd development stage (12WAP). Correlation studies of the population with weather parameters revealed that the pest and abiotic factors did not show any consistent association. The relative importance of different abiotic factors that acted upon the pest varied during the period. Preliminary screening of entomopathogens, botanicals and new generation insecticides undertaken under laboratory conditions revealed that, GE 2%, NSKE 5 %, SFE 10 % and the synthetic insecticides, indoxacarb 0.008%, and cypermethrin 0.03% were equally effective as the treated check, malathion 0.15%. Field studies conducted using the above selected treatments revealed that the reduction in population of S. litura was maximum with indoxacarb 0.008%, followed by cypermethrin 0.03% and the treated check, malathion 0.15%. Among the botanicals GE 2% was found to be the most effective in reducing the population, followed by 5% NSKE. Management of S. litura had a significant effect on yield of cabbage and cauliflower. Indoxacarb 0.008% resulted in 29.37 per cent increase in net yield of cabbage. The effect of cypermethrin 0.03%, malathion 0.15%, GE 2% and NSKE 5% were also noteworthy in increasing the yield by 23.07 to 28.35 per cent. In cauliflower, there was a yield increase of 53.38 to 60.07 per cent, indoxacarb 0.008%, cypermethrin 0.03%, malathion 0.15%, 10%, NSKE 5% and GE 2%. Samples analysed for residues, at the time of harvest revealed that the mean residue of indoxacarb 0.008%, and cypermethrin 0.03% were below detectable limit. From the above study it is concluded that, the key pest of cabbage and cauliflower grown in hilly tracts was DBM and that in the plains was S. litura. S. litura can effectively be managed by adopting management strategies in the true leaf, cupping and early head formation or curd initiation stages of these crops. Indoxacarb 0.008% and cypermethrin 0.03%, can safely be used as there was no residual problems. Considering the ecological and economic factors, spraying 2 % GE or 5 % NSKE is the safer.ThesisItem Open Access Impact of novel insecticides on Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (Hymenoptera:Trichogrammatidae)(Department of agricultural entomology, College of horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2013) Uma, S; KAU; Sosamma JacobThe egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis Ishii is widely distributed in many crop ecosystems throughout the country. Its inundative field releases have achieved an appreciable success in the suppression of the population density of rice leaf folder. But the potential of T. chilonis can be severely curtailed by the application of insecticides and hence it is essential to identify the insecticides that are compatible with this species. In this context, the present study entitled ‘Impact of novel insecticides on Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (Hymenoptera : Trichogrammatidae)’ was carried out in the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture during 2012-13 to evaluate the lethal effects of insecticides on the egg parasitoid. Five new generation insecticides viz., buprofezin 25 SC, chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC, flubendiamide 480 SC, spinosad 2.5 SC and thiamethoxam 25 WG were tested for their toxicity to T. chilonis in the laboratory by adopting the standardised protocols developed by the International Organisation for Biological Control of Noxious Plants and Animals / West Palaeractic Region Section (IOBC/WPRS). The selected newer insecticides are being used in rice ecosystem and have replaced the old conventional insecticides. Hence the acute contact toxicity to adults, dosage-mortality response, detrimental effects to pre-imaginal stages of the parasitoid inside the host eggs and persistent toxicity of the five selected insecticides at field recommended concentrations were investigated. All the insecticides tested revealed different degrees of acute contact toxicity to the adults of T. chilonis. The recommended concentration of thiamethoxam and spinosad showed highest toxicity by causing 68.42 % mortality at 24 hours after treatment to adult parasitoid. Chlorantraniliprole indicated lowest mortality (50.00%) to the adult wasps. Median lethal concentration (LC50) of each insecticide was determined. Thiamethoxam indicated highest toxicity to T. chilonis requiring the lowest concentration to cause 50% mortality (0.0011 mg a.i. l-1) to the parasitoid. Chlorantraniliprole was safe to T. chilonis with the highest LC50 value of (1.3860 mg a.i. l-1). Based on risk quotient (the ratio between field recommended concentration and LC50 of the beneficial insects) only chlorantraniliprole was found to be ‘harmless’ to T. chilonis while thiamethoxam was ‘dangerous’ whereas buprofezin, flubendiamide and spinosad were ‘slightly to moderately toxic’ to T. chilonis. The effect of insecticides on the immature stages egg, larva and pupa along with the impact on the second generation of T. chilonis was also studied. All insecticides significantly reduced parasitisation when T. chilonis eggs were exposed to insecticides. Thiamethoxam caused highest reduction (39.23%) in parasitism while chlorantraniliprole reduced parasitism by 9.50%. Adult parasitoid emergence was also reduced when eggs were exposed to insecticides. Thiamethoxam and spinosad were significantly ‘slightly harmful’ while buprofezin, flubendiamide and chlorantraniliprole were ‘harmless’ to the eggs of T. chilonis. Spinosad was found to be ‘moderately harmful’ to the larval stage while other insecticides were ‘slightly harmful’ to T. chilonis except chlorantraniliprole which caused 27.89% reduction in adult emergence over control and was thus ‘harmless’. Exposure of T. chilonis pupae to insecticides caused a significant reduction of adult emergence. Thiamethoxam was most toxic to pupal stage followed by spinosad and buprofezin. Buprofezin, chlorantraniliprole and flubendiamide were ‘harmless’ to pupae of T. chilonis. Parasitisation efficiency and adult emergence of adult parasitoids emerging from insecticide treated egg, larva and pupa of T. chilonis were studied. The adults emerging from thiamethoxam treated eggs caused 15.00% reduction in parasitism while adult emergence was reduced by 36.13%. Thus thiamethoxam was found to be ‘slightly harmful’ whereas all other insecticide treatments (buprofezin, chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide and spinosad ) were ‘harmless’. The progenies emerging from chlorantraniliprole treated larvae of T. chilonis resulted in highest rate of parasitisation (62.50%) and were harmless whereas all the other tested insecticides were ‘slightly harmful’. All the insecticide treatments were found to be ‘harmless’ to the second generation when the pupae were exposed to insecticides. All the tested insecticides were ‘slightly harmful’ for adult emergence when the factitious host eggs were exposed to insecticides. With respect to persistent toxicity of insecticides to T. chilonis, it was observed that thiamethoxam had the longest persistence up to 21 days and was rated as ‘moderately persistent’according to IOBC ranking whereas buprofezin, chlorantraniliprole and flubendiamide were rated as ‘short lived’. Among the five insecticides tested, chlorantraniliprole was the safest and thiamethoxam was most toxic to T. chilonis at field recommended concentration. Therefore, potential toxicity of insecticides to parasitoids are be considered before application in rice ecosystem. Let us hope that chemical control and biocontrol will join hands to make Integrated Pest Management a successful venture.ThesisItem Open Access Safety of new generation insecticides to bee pollinators(Department of agricultural entomology, College of agriculture, Vellayani, 2013) Ravi Boli; KAU; Premila, K SThe investigation on “Safety of new generation insecticides to bee pollinators” was conducted at the AICRP on Honey bee and Pollinators, Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2012- 2013. The objectives were to determine the safety of newer molecules of insecticides to bee pollinators mainly Apis cerana indica F., Apis mellifera L. and Trigona iridipennis Smith. under laboratory and field conditions. New generation insecticides with label claim, suggested for pest management recommended against defoliators and sucking pests in vegetable ecosystems were chosen for the study. The insecticides selected were chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 30 g a.i. ha-1, flubendiamide 480 SC @ 75 g a.i. ha-1, emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 10 g a.i. ha-1, spinosad 45 SC @ 75 g a.i. ha-1, indoxacarb 15.8 SC @ 75 g a.i. ha-1, thiodicarb 75 WP @ 750 g a.i. ha-1, fipronil 5 SC @ 50 g a.i. ha-1 and cartap hydrochloride 50 SP @ 500 g a.i. ha-1 (against defoliators). Acetamiprid 20 SP @ 10 g a.i. ha-1, thiacloprid 21.7 SC @ 30 g a.i. ha-1, imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 20 g a.i. ha-1, clothianidin 50 WDG @ 20 g a.i. ha-1, buprofezin 25 SC @ 250 g a.i. ha-1, acephate 25 SC @ 292 g a.i. ha-1 were chosen (against sucking pests) with dimethoate 30 EC @ 200 g a.i. ha-1 as insecticidal check and untreated check. Laboratory evaluation of the two sets of new generation insecticides showed that chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 30 g a.i. ha-1, emamectin benzoate 75 g a.i. ha-1 and spinosad 45 SC @ 75 g a.i. ha-1 recorded low mortality of bees ranging from 9.40 to 20.00 per cent and acetamiprid 20 SP @ 10 g a.i. ha-1, imidacloprid 20 g a.i. ha-1 and buprofezin 250 g a.i. ha-1 recorded the per cent mortality ranging between 17.23 and 34.60 per cent. These new generation insecticides along with cartap hydrochloride 50 SP @ 500 g a.i. ha-1 and dimethoate 30 EC @ 200 g a.i. ha-1 were selected for field evaluation in culinary melon (C. melo var. acidulus). Prior to the evaluation of new generation insecticides, the number of flower visitors/ pollinators recorded on culinary melon was found to be 15. Of these, the important groups were hymenoptera (40 per cent), coleoptera (20 per cent), lepidoptera (16 per cent), diptera (16 per cent) and hemiptera (8 per cent). Highest activity of insect pollinators were recorded under pesticide free condition. Maximum foraging activity of bee pollinators was recorded during 10 AM to 11 AM. A. c. indica was the dominant bee pollinator in culinary melon. Foliar application of the selected new generation insecticides done at 10 per cent flowering showed that chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 30 g a.i. ha-1 and buprofezin 250 g a.i. ha-1 were safe to bee pollinators compared to other insecticides. The foraging activity of bee pollinators observed in terms of their relative abundance and foraging time revealed that there was no significant difference between treatments and untreated check. To conclude, among the new generation insecticides evaluated for their safety to bee pollinators like A. c. indica, A. mellifera and T. iridipennis, chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC @ 30 g a.i. ha-1 was safe when sprayed against defoliators and buprofezin 25 SC @ 250 g a.i. ha-1 was safe when sprayed against sucking pests of culinary melon (C. melo var. acidulus).ThesisItem Open Access Biology and Management of the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Prostigmata : Tetranychidae) on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2013) Aswathi Krishna, R; KAU; Haseena, BhaskarThe study entitled “Biology and management of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) on okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]” was undertaken at Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2012-13. The objectives of the study were to elucidate the biology of T. urticae on okra and to evaluate selected acaropathogenic fungi viz., Hirsutella thompsonii and Beauveria bassiana, botanicals viz., neem oil 2 per cent and NSKE 5 per cent, and new acaricide molecules viz., spiromesifen 240 SC, fenazaquin 10 EC and diafenthiuron 50 WP for their bioefficacy against T. urticae on okra. The study on the biology of T. urticae was conducted in the laboratory during October- November, 2012 at 30 + 20C and 61.5 + 7 % RH following leaf disc method. The life cycle of T. urticae consisted of egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and adult. The immature stages were followed by short quiescent intervals called nymhochrysalis, deutochrysalis and teleiochrysalis. The mite recorded an incubation period of 2.92 days. Larval period of 0.83 and 1.19 days, protonymphal period of 0.36 and 0.58 days and deutonymphal period of 0.67 and 0.29 days were recorded respectively in male and female T. urticae. The total developmental period from egg to adult emergence was shorter for male (6.73 days) compared to female (7.52 days). Adult male was smaller in size, reddish green or light red in colour and pear shaped. Adult female was broader, bright reddish in colour and globular in shape with long setae over the body and legs. Mating took place immediately after the emergence of the female. T. urticae exhibited both sexual and parthenogenetic reproduction. Mated female’s progeny consisted of both males and females in the ratio 1:5.8, whereas unmated female produced 100 per cent males. Pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods lasted for 0.58, 9 and 4 days and 0.58, 11 and 4.5 days respectively in mated and unmated female. Mated and unmated females on an average produced 108 and 77 eggs. The adult mite recorded longevity of 12, 12.5 and 17 days for male, mated female and unmated female respectively. The shorter developmental period of T. urticae coupled with high fecundity would help the mite build up population very fast and successfully complete several generations in a crop season attaining the status of major pest. Field studies were conducted to evaluate two acaropathogenic fungi, two botanicals and three new acaricide molecules along with a standard check and an untreated control against T. urticae on okra during two seasons viz., February – May, 2012 and November, 2012 – February, 2013. The new acaricide molecules diafenthiuron 50 WP @ 400 g a.i. ha-1 fenazaquin 10 EC @ 125 g a.i. ha-1 and spiromesifen 240 SC @ 100 g a.i. ha-1 were highly effective against T. urticae, bringing significant reduction in mite population. Among the botanicals evaluated, neem oil 2 per cent was found to be superior to NSKE 5 per cent during the second season though on par with each other during the first season of study. Among the acaropathogenic fungi, B. bassiana was found to perform better than H. thompsonii in terms of per cent reduction in mite and egg counts over untreated control. However due to lack of consistent results for the bioagents and botanicals further trials have to be conducted to obtain conclusive results.ThesisItem Open Access Shoot Feeders of mango and their management(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2013) Preetha, L; KAU; Anitha, NA study was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2010-2011 with the objectives of documenting shoot feeders of mango, assessing the intensity of damage and identifying effective pesticides for their management. Survey conducted in three taluks of Thiruvananthapuram district revealed the occurrence of eighteen shoot and leaf feeders (nine leaf eating caterpillars, four leaf eating beetles, three sucking pests and two midges) on mango. Among the leaf eating caterpillars, two lycaenids, Rothinda amor and Arhopala sp. are new reports from Kerala. The leaf cutting weevil, Deporaus marginatus was found to be the major leaf feeder of mango with a damage intensity of more than 50 per cent under field condition. Biology of the weevil was worked out in the laboratory and the egg, larval and pupal periods were 2.5, 6.5 and 13.5 days, respectively. In a single leaf, 1 to 19 eggs were observed and the fecundity of the weevil was 74 to 85 eggs. Based on the feeding as well as the oviposition behaviour of the adults, third to eleventh day of bud bursting was found to be the critical stage of susceptiblilty. The reaction of twenty one mango varieties against leaf cutting weevil in the flushing season of the plants were observed. All the varieties were found susceptible to weevil infestation with the minimum leaf feeding damage (scraping on leaves) of 56.00 per cent in Jehangir and 83.33 per cent (maximum damage) in Malgoa. Leaf cutting damage was ranging from 16.64 per cent in Kalapadi to 29.17 per cent in Prior and Banganapalli. Laboratory evaluation of neem seed kernel extract 5%, annona seed extract 5%, neem oil 2%, neem oil garlic emulsion 2%, Econeem 1% revealed that annona seed extract 5% was the most effective with lowest leaf feeding (25.81 per cent) and leaf cutting (34.38 per cent) damage. The mortality of adult and grubs were 43.48 and 83.35 per cent, respectively. Application of imidacloprid 0.003%, deltamethrin + triazophos 0.05%, triazophos 0.05%, lambdacyhalothrin 0.005% and dimethoate 0.05% on flushes of mango in the laboratory resulted in 90 per cent mortality of both adults and grubs with lambdacyhalothrin 0.005%. In order to fix the spray schedule, persistence of insecticides were tested and lambdacyhalothrin 0.005% recorded a mortality of 70. 06 per cent on ninth day of treatment. Field experiment with lambdacyhalothrin 0.005%, deltamethrin+ triazophos 0.05%, dimethoate 0.05%, and annona seed extract 5% indicated the superiority of lambdacyhalothrin 0.005% against leaf cutting weevil. No leaf cutting damage was seen nine days after treatment whereas the leaf feeding damage was 6.71 per cent. Based on the results the infestation of mango leaf cutting weevil can be managed effectively by applying lambdacyhalothrin 0.005% on the second day of bud bursting and the chemical could give protection to the new flushes during the vulnerable stage of the plant.
