BIO-INTENSIVE INTEGRATED MODULE FOR MANAGEMENT OF TOBACCO APHID, MYZUS NICOTIANAE BLACKMAN UNDER KARNATAKA LIGHT SOIL CONDITION

Abstract

A field trial for two consecutive years (2008-09 and 2009-10) was conducted for management of tobacco aphid Myzus nicotianae Blackman which is the only major pest on FCV tobacco in Karnataka Light Soil region (KLS). The treatments consisted of two rows of border crop (bajra), an entomopathogenic fungus (Verticillium lecanii @ 3X1011 CFU/ha), recommended chemical pesticide (imidacloprid @ 50 g a.i./ha) and their combinations. One spray of imidacloprid and one spray of acephate (@ 750 g a.i./ha) at 10 days interval served as recommended chemical control practice against aphids in KLS. An unsprayed plot without any border crop served as control. Spray were given at 45 and 55 days after planting. Results revealed that all the treatments were significantly superior over control in reducing aphid infestation after 10 days of second spray. Cent per cent reduction of infestation was recorded in chemical control plot and also in plots which received one spray of imidacloprid in combination with either bajra border or one spray of V. lecanii. Among other treatments, V. lecanii applied twice at 45 and 55 days was superior with 86.60% reduction of aphid infestation followed by border crop with V. lecanii at 45 days and border with V. lecanii at 55 days with 77.98 and 72.12% reduction of infestations, respectively. Bio-intensive module consisting of two rows of bajra border as barrier crop to tobacco with one spray of Verticillium lecanii @ 3X1011 CFU/ha at 45 days after transplanting reduced aphid infestation, sooty mold formation and increased bright grade leaf yields over control in KLS.