EVALUATION OF BIOPESTICIDES AGAINST THE CAPITULUM BORER HELICOVERPA ARMIGERA ON SUNFLOWER

Abstract

he different biopesticides were tested against the natural incidence of the capitulum borer Helicoverpa armigera on sunflower crop var. Morden during kharif 2010 in the experimental farm of Marathwada Agricultural University, Oilseeds Research Station at Latur. The experiment was undertaken in a randomized block design (RBD) with seven treatments viz., B. bassiana SC formulation @ 250 mg/L, DOR Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt) formulation @ 2.5 g/L, HaNPV (DOR isolate) @ 2 x 108 POBs/mL Commercial neem formulation 0.5 %, NSKE 5 %,PSE 5%, Profenophos 0.05 % and Untreated Control in three replications with 4.2 x 4.5 m2 plots and row to spacing of 60 x 30 cm. In all two sprayings were undertaken so as to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and it was observed that the larval incidence at 1, 3 and 7 days after both spraying was lowest in plots sprayed with Profenophos . However the next best treatments in the order of effectiveness for the control of Helicoverpa were HaNPV @ 2 x 108 POBs/mL, NSKE 5 %, DOR B. bassiana 250 mg, DOR Bt 5 @ 2.5 gm/litre, PSE 5 % and Neem formulation 0.5%. All the biopesticides proved safer to natural enemy but treatment of Profenophos was lethal to them, however, highest yield was recorded with the same (1140 kg/ha) but it is at par with other biopesticides.