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Bio-intensive management of whiteflies in horticultural crops

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Objective: 

 

  1. Isolation, mass production of potential natural enemies of pests
  2. Bio- efficacy of potential natural enemies (parasites, predators and pathogens)
  3. Bio- efficacy of  botanicals, biological control agents, bio- pesticides and chemical pesticides against the pests
  4. Investigate the potential use of banker & barrier plants to enhance natural enemy population

 

PI: 

Dr. K. Gopalakrishna Pillai
 

CO PI: 

 

Dr. P. N. Ganagavishalakshy
 

Achievements: 

 

  1. Tomato plants were found suitable to maintain whitefly nymphs for parasitoid multiplication as tomato harboured maximum nymphs (135.75 /leaf) compared to other test plants
  2. Higher number of whitefly parasitoid, Encarsia transvena (180.89/ leaf) was yielded from tomato plant followed by tobacco plant (176.27/leaf) and egg plant (118.25/leaf)
  3. Encarsia transvena parasitism ranged from 15.41 to 30.60%   on tomato plants, 16.11 to 35.32% on tobacco plants and 15.71 to 24.44% on egg plant.
  4. Tomato plant was found to be a better banker plant as maximum parasitized whitefly nymphs were available for 7 to 10 weeks.
  5. Three commonly used insecticides, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and spirotetramat (0.005%) were found to be harmful to of white fly parasitoid, Encarsia transvena inflicting 100% mortality. Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) buprofezin (0.005%) was comparatively less toxic to E . transvena, by causing  50% parasitoid mortality  observed after 3days.

 

Publications:

 

  1. Pillai, K.G., P.N.Gangavisalaskhy and A. Krishnamoorthy 2012. Investigations on potential use of indicator and banker plants to enhance natural enemy population for the management of whiteflies in polyhouses. Abstracts, IV National symposium on plant protection in horticultural crops: Emerging challenges and sustainable pest management. April, 25-28, 2012 , IIHR, Bangalore,  p91.