Parmjit KaurDinesh Kumar2023-12-292023-12-292023Dinesh Kumar (2023). Eco-friendly management of Tetranychus urticae Koch on brinjal under protected cultivation (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810205090Brinjal is a highly remunerative vegetable crop grown throughout the world under protected cultivation and sucking pests are a major hindrance in its cultivation. In the present studies, population dynamics of red spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch was observed under protected cultivation. It was observed that the population of T. urticae was found to be significantly positively correlated with maximum temperature and average temperature while non-significantly positively correlated with minimum temperature whereas it was significantly negatively correlated with morning relative humidity (MRH), evening relative humidity (ERH) and average humidity. The avoidable crop loss in yield caused by T. urticae on brinjal was observed to be 19.07 per cent in July transplanted crop and 20.09 per cent in February transplanted crop. The efficacy of various plant extracts at different doses against T. urticae on brinjal under protected cultivation was tested at two locations. PAU homemade neem extract, PAU homemade pongamia extract both @ 14 and 16 ml per litre and neem fruit aqueous extract @ 6 per cent were effective in controlling mite population as they gave more than 60 per cent reduction in mite population after seven days of second spray. Different indigeneous/homemade/Gurukul products and predators against T. urticae on brinjal under protected cultivation were also tested. Among these products, Agniastra and Neemastra both @ 10 and 12 ml/litre gave best results and reduction in these treatments was more than 60 per cent after seven days of second spray. Among predators, Anthocorid bug, Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius@20 nymphs/plant and phytoseiid mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus Evans@1:20, 1:30 and 1:40 reduced T. urticae population by more than 70 per cent where as B. pallescens @ 30, 40 per plant reduced the mite population by more than 80 per cent. Therefore, we can incorporate these plant extracts, indigenous/homemade/Gurukul products and predators in integrated management of mites on brinjal under protected cultivation.EnglishThesis