Biocontrol based ipm module against insect pests of cauliflower

Abstract

The present study attempts developing a biocontrol based IPM module using parasitoids, predators and biopesticide formulations for the management of insect pests of cauliflower. The results revealed that during 2013–14 and 2014–15; November to March, the incidence of cabbage butterfly Pieris brassicae L. and mustard aphid Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) was observed, and these appeared in February. No incidence of diamond back moth Plutella xylostella L. was observed. Three treatments viz., 1. Biocontrol based IPM module; 2. Chemical control (Success 2.5 SC- Spinosad@ 625 ml/ha against P. brassicae, malathion 50 EC @ 800 ml/ha against aphids; and 3. Control (no treatment) were evaluated. The pretreatment count of P. brassicae larvae was 12.21, 55.87 and 54.60/plant in the plots of biocontrol based IPM, chemical control and untreated control, respectively; and for L. erysimi it was 35.39, 32.20 and 38.33/plant, respectively. Both biocontrol module and chemical control were found at par against P. brassicae larvae, with % reduction being 62.8 and 66.73%, respectively. Biocontrol module was found effective against L. erysimi, causing 62.5% reduction. The population of natural enemies such as coccinellids (67.9%), syrphid fly (35.0%) and Cotesia glomerata (L.) (30.0%) were also more in the fields with biocontrol. The yield of curds in the biocontrol (102.4 q/ha) and chemical control (113.6 q/ha) were significantly higher than untreated control (72.08 q/ha).