DEVELOPMENT OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT MODULES AGAINST INSECT PESTS OF BHUT JOLOKIA (Capsicum chinense Jacq.)
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Date
2019-09
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Abstract
Experiments were carried out under field conditions at the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture as well as in the Department of Entomology and Department of Plant Pathology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during 2017-18 and 2018-19 to study the major sucking and chewing pests of Bhut Jolokia causing substantial losses in fruit yield. At present, IPM has been attaining immense importance in the agricultural scenario of India and abroad. Therefore, evaluation of sustainable IPM modules was felt very much necessary in Bhut Jolokia. The result revealed that altogether twenty three numbers of insect pests were associated with the crop and among them aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover/Myzus persicae Sulzar), Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius), thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood), yellow mite [Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks)], Cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon Hufuagel) and fruit fly [Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)] were considered as the key pests of Bhut Jolokia. Highest incidence of major pests was obtained in the 1st fortnight of April during 2018 as against 2nd fortnight of April during 2019, respectively. A new invasive pest, spiraling whitefly (Aleyrodicus dispersus Russel, Aleyrudidae:Hemiptera) was also reported for the first time in Bhut Jolokia from Assam.
Five IPM modules were evaluated against insect pests of Bhut Jolokia, of which module I comprised of recommended dose of fertilizer and farm yard manure+ application of microbial consortium + growth promoter viz., Tricontanol + weeding at 30, 60 and 90 Days after transplanting (DAT) + imidacloprid 17.8 SL 0.4 ml per lt @ 40 days interval was found to be the most effective module in respect of B: C ratio (3.02: 1) followed by module III (Vermicompost 1.25t/ha+ neem cake 500 kg/ha + application of microbial consortium + black polythene mulching + garlic extract @ 10% at 20 and 70 DAT +NSKE 5% at 35 and 100 DAT + installation of sticky trap @ 25 traps /ha) where the B:C ratio was 2.96 with maximum yield of 740.74 gm per plant with next higher yield of 712.13 gm per plant in module I. Hence, module III in comparison to module I seems to be quite promising strategy as it did not require any insecticidal interference keeping natural enemies and ecosystem undisturbed.
Out of eight cultivars collected cv. Assam 1 (King) contributed maximum yield of 719.85 gm per plant followed by Assam 4 with 626.67 gm per plant with minimum susceptibility towards pests and diseases. Correlation studies between sucking pests and phenotypic characters indicated that only number of leaves and leaf
area index had negative significant impact while other parameters viz., plant height and branches showed no effect.
Result of different shade level, 75 per cent shade showed highest plant height and leaf area index of 90.01 cm and 1.81 as against open condition where it was only 53.18 cm and 1.46. The number of leaves and branches of Assam 1 cultivar were to be highest 220.51 cm and 8.75 in open condition, while they were 80.75 cm and 5.13 in 75 per cent shade level. Likewise, for flowering, 116.75 days required in case of 75 per cent shade level, whereas it was only 93.25 days in case of open condition. Similarly, fruit numbers also reduced in case of 75 per cent shade level which was only 27.0 while 92.13 was in case of open condition. Yield per plant was also around 718.13 gm per plant in open condition, whereas it was only 223.63 gm per plant in 75 per cent shade level. The major sucking pests and coccinellid predator population found to be in higher side in open condition also. In 75 per cent shaded area the pooled infestation of aphid, whitefly, thrips and mite was 0.62, 0.35, 0.26 and 0.54 numbers per three leaves whereas, it was 1.69, 1.58, 1.25 and 2.58 numbers per three leaves in open condition. Predatory spider population found highest with 0.34 numbers per plant while coccinellid population was lowest with 0.15 numbers per plant at 75 per cent shade level. But coccinellid population was highest with 0.40 numbers per plant in open condition while 0.18 numbers per plant spider also found at open condition, respectively. RT PCR method confirmed the presence of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on whole seed and seed coat, which indicates that CMV transmitted through seed.