VENKATESHALUKOTIKAL, Y. K.PATIL, D. R.G. BHUVANESHWARIG. MANJUNATHMUDDASAR2024-05-132024-05-132021-06UHS17PGD203https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810208936Strategic studies on diversity and management of fruit sucking moths in pomegranate during 2017-18 and 2018-19 revealed a total of 72 species of fruit sucking moths, of which five species were primary and 67 species were secondary fruit sucking moths. Among the primary fruit sucking moths, Eudocima materna was most predominant followed by E. phalonia and E. homaena. While, secondary fruit sucking moths comprise of 67 species belonging to 53 genera, under 13 subfamilies and three families (Noctuidae, Erebidae and Nolidae) of Lepidoptera. Erebinae is the most predominant subfamily with 40 species. The seasonal activity of primary fruit sucking moths indicated that the activity of moth started from 27th standard week and remained till 4th standard week with the peak activity during 43rd standard week (fourth week of October) coinciding with Mrig bahar fruiting season of pomegranate. The correlation studies of primary fruit sucking moths with weather parameters indicated that, minimum temperature, relative humidity and total rainfall showed significant positive correlation While, maximum temperature showed non-significant correlation. Taxonomic studies for five species of fruit sucking moths were carried out and identification keys were prepared using morphological and male and female genitalia characters. The genomic DNA of adult fruit sucking moths was studied with COI gene and subjected to PCR, which yielded fragments length of 650 base pairs. A strong relatedness was observed and indicated that, Eudocima phalonia and E. hypermnestra were more closely related forming into a single cluster. While, E. materna and E. homaena were assorted into a separate sub cluster. The feeding preference of primary fruit sucking moth towards different fruits in the net house signify highest preference (bored holes) banana fruit followed by guava, sapota and tomato over citrus, pomegranate, apple, brinjal and different fruit extracts. The evaluation of botanical oils and their combinations for the repellency of fruit sucking moth in net house and field condition signifies that, combination of neem oil + lemongrass oil + citronella oil (1:1:1) and citronella oil alone at 2 per cent concentration found effective in repelling the fruit sucking moths with less number of damaged fruits. Five different traps viz., white cloth trap, black cloth trap, nylon net trap, bucket trap and bottle trap were evaluated for trapping efficiency of primary and secondary fruit sucking moths with banana as attractant in pomegranate. Among the different traps, nylon net trap with banana was found promising in attraction and trapping of both primary and secondary fruit sucking moths. Finally, four IPM modules were formulated and evaluated in field. Among them, integrated module (Nylon net traps were installed at 10 traps per hectare with banana fruit as bait, bait was replaced at five days interval along with spraying of repellents Neem oil + Citronella oil + Lemongrass oil at 2 % and safer insecticides Lambda-cyhalothrin at 0.5 ml/ litre alternatively at 10 days intervals) was significantly superior in reducing the fruit sucking moth damage with least number of damaged fruits per plant, feeding holes, highest moth trapped, yield and net returns. The number of fruit borer and thrips damaged fruits were also lowest in integrated module.EnglishThesis