1.

Spraying crude suspension of an indigenous NPV of H. armigera @ 100 L.U. in 350 to 450 litres of water/acre/week effectively control the H. armigera infesting in gram and tomato.

2.

Carbaryl and monocrotophos are most toxic to the natural enemies viz., Rogas aligarhensis and T. chilotraeae of cotton bollworms. Therefore, their used should be discouraged when natural enemies of cotton bollworms are active.

3.

Dusting of BHC and DDT should be avoided in cauliflower and cabbage in order to preserved effective natural enemies.

4.

Phosalone 0.07 % applied at 15 days interval are relatively safe to naturally

5.

Bollworm parasites such as Rogas aligarhensis,Apanteles angaleti, Bracon kirkpetriki, Campoletis chlorideae, Chelonus blackburni, T. chilotraeae and larvae of Chrysoperla carnea  can safely be release after 4 to 6 days of spraying of phosalone, after 5 to 7 days of endosulfan, after 7 to 9 days of monocrotophos and after 8 to 10 days of carbaryl whenever Integrated cotton bollworm control is attempted in H-4 cotton using these natural enemies  

6.

Cotton bollworms can satisfactory be controlled by supplementary release of T. chilonis, T. achaea (Both @ 1, 00,000/ acre), Chilonis blackburni @ 5, 000/acre, Chrysopa 100 adults/ acre and R. aligarhensis 150 adults/acre at fortnightly interval and by spraying purified suspension of indigenous NPV of H. armigera @ 109 PIB/ ml at 3 days interval

7.

Helicoverpa armigera prefers to oviposit on Rustica tobacco and heavy larval mortality has been observed. This tobacco can be utilized as  a trap crop in H. armigera management.

8.

Planting one row of marigold after every fifth row of tomato, Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) damage can be reduced in tomato. It would be worthwhile exploiting this behaviour of  H . armigera in other crops where H. armigera is a problem and flowering of marigold coincides with the pest infestation.

9.

Planting two rows of maize on the periphery of cotton, application of phorate 10 g @ 1 kg a.i./ha in soil, inundative releases of Trichogramma chilonis @ 2,00,000 / ha and Chrysoperla carnea @ 1,00,000 /ha at weekly interval alternately, spot application of monocrotophos 0.036% and trizophos is 0.05 % on need basis manage the sucking and bollworm pests of cotton effectively and economically.

10

Following two IPM packages are recommended to manage sucking pests complex and bollworms in cotton Hybrid-8 for the farmer’s of middle Gujarat region.

Package – I: 

• Mechanical collection of  bollworm infested plant  parts and putting them in wire screen cage.

• Random planting of Maize @ 10% of plants.

• Three releases of Chrysoperla carnea @ 10,000 larvae (2-3 days old) /ha/week synchronizing with the appearance of the sucking pests.

• Eight releases of Trichogramma chilonis @ 1,50,000 per /ha/week synchronizing with the appearance of the bollworm eggs.

Package – II: 

• Mechanical collection of bollworm infested plant parts and putting them in wire screen cage.

• Random planting of Maize @ 10% of plants.

• Three releases of Chrysoperla carnea @ 10,000 larvae (2-3 days old) /ha/week synchronizing with the appearance of the sucking pests.

• Eight releases of Trichogramma chilonis @ 1,50,000 per /ha/week synchronizing with the appearance of the bollworm eggs.

• Need based application of monocrotophos 0.04% and endosulphan 0.07% after 8th release of Trichogramma chilonis.

11

Biocontrol Unit Anand has developed a novel “Entomophage Park” which has given a new lease of life to friendly biological control agents that have fallen prey to indiscriminate use of chemical insecticides over the years.  Spread over 0.2 hectare of land the park that has been developed has diverse plant flora that includes lucerne, Cassia occidentalis, Indian Senna, cotton, maize, flowering plants, which attracted different species of insects that serve as host to friendly predators/ parasites. Mottled emigrant butterfly is most attracted to Cassia occidentalis for egg deposition and these eggs are being used by one of the parasitoids, Trichogramma, which is a potential parasite of several lepidopteron pests including American Bollworm. As many as 30 species of parasites and predators are conserved in the park which destroy farm pests. Once reared in the natural environment their genetic traits are maintained and when nucleus stocks are taken from such parks and used in inundative release programme, then success of biological control becomes greater.

12

  Need based application of methyl - O - demeton @ 0.05 % during early part of the season i.e. 30 days after germination, three releases of Chrysoperla carnea @ 50,000 larvae (2 - 3 days old) / hectare / week synchronizing from first release with the appearance of the pests. Eight releases of Trichogramma chilonis each @ 1,50,000 / hectare / week, synchronizing with the appearance of the pest, and need based application of endosulphan 0.07 % and monocrotophos 0.04 % alternatively after 8 releases of Trichogramma chilonis to manage the sucking and bollworm pests of cotton effectively and economically, and also conserve several natural enemies of cotton pests which silently work and exert natural control of the pests.  

13

To manage sucking pest complex and bollworms in cotton hybrid –10 and also to conserve entomophage diversity following IPM package is recommended. 

1. Hand picking of pest immature stages (eggs, larva, pupa) and putting them in wire screen cage twice during peak incidence.

2. Interspersing of 10 % maize with cotton crop. Sowing of cotton and maize should be done simultaneously.

3. One release of Chrysoperla carnea @ 14,000 larvae (2-3 days old) synchronizing with the appearance of the pests.

4. Release of Trichogramma chilonis @ 1,50,000 /ha/week (5 releases). First release should be synchronized with the appearance of the bollworms eggs.

14

Farmers of middle Gujarat region growing cotton H-10 are advised to adopt following measures to enhance the activity of natural enemies and thereby to suppress the incidence of insect pests of cotton.

Interspersing of one row of Cassia occidentalis  after every six rows of cotton and sowing of maize and planting of zinnia (Zinnia elegans) @ 10 % of total  plant population of cotton plants. (ICBR 1:20.85).

OR

Interspersing of one row of Cassia occidentalis  after every six rows of cotton and sowing of maize and planting of zinnia (Zinnia elegans) @ 10 % of total  plant population of cotton plants and one release of  Trichogramma chilonis @ 1.5 lakh/ha + Chrysoperla carnea @ 5000 larvae (2-3 days old)/ha, coincided with the appearance of pests  (ICBR 1: 7.95).

Note: Cassia occidentalis should be harvested before ripening of pods.

• Useful recommendations on Biological based IPM packages have been developed for the farmers, which are approved by Agricultural Research Council of the university.

• Conducted on farm demonstrations involving farmers to popularize the biocontrol technologies.

• Media (T.V., All India Radio, Krishi melas etc) are frequently used to popularize the biocontrol technology.

• Published extension literature in vernacular language, preparation of technical manual (IPM) package.

• Technical guidance was provided in establishing production units for parasites at various sugar factories and state department of Agriculture.

• Imparted training to farmers (up to 30 / month) on first of every month on various aspects of Biological control.