INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF TOBACCO APHID, MYZUS NICOTIANAE BLACKMAN IN CENTRAL BLACK SOILS OF ANDHRA PRADESH

Abstract

A field trial for two consecutive seasons (2015-16 and 2016-17) was conducted for management of tobacco aphid Myzus nicotianae Blackman. Three modules viz., bio, bio + chemical and chemical were tested for managing aphid infestation in Flue Cured Virginia tobacco variety, Siri. The treatments consisted of maize border (two rows), an entomopathogenic fungus (Lecanicillium lecanii @ 3X1011 CFU/ha), recommended chemical pesticide (imidacloprid @ 0.05%) and their combinations. The plot with only chemical spray viz., one spray of imidacloprid @ 0.05% and one spray of thiomethaxam @ 0.05% served as recommended chemical control plot. An unsprayed plot without any border crop was maintained for comparison (control). Sprayings were given at 55 and 65 days after planting (DAP). Results revealed that all treatments were significantly superior over control. Aphid infestation was nil and cured leaf yields were more i.e. 1945 and 1941 kg/ha in chemical control plot with and without border crop, respectively. Biointensive IPM module with two rows of maize border as barrier crop, one spray of Lecanicillium lecanii @ 3X1011 CFU/ha at 55 DAP and one spray of imidacloprid @ 0.05% at 65 DAP exhibited 95.10% reduction of infestation by tobacco aphid, Myzus nicotianae Blackman and 5.26% increase of cured leaf yields over untreated control which was on par with recommended chemical control practice. There was no significant difference between two seasons in respect of aphid infested plants, aphid population on infested plants and sooty mold incidence.