FIELD EFFICACY OF INSECTICIDES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF POMEGRANATE APHID, APHIS PUNICAE (PASSERINI)

Abstract

Field evaluation of new insecticide molecules for the management of pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae was carried out at Bijapur-Karnataka for two years during 2010 and 2011. The study revealed that, among the different insecticide molecules, thiamethoxam 25 WG at 0.2 g/L recorded highest reduction in aphid population after both spray intervals followed by Imidacloprid 70 WG at 0.3 g/L. During the first year, the mean reduction in aphid population with thiamethoxam was 90.19 and 94.10% after the first and second spay, whereas during the second year, the reduction was to the extent of 91.19 and 93.42%, respectively. Similarly, during 2010, imidacloprid recorded 87.92 and 90.39% reduction in aphid population after first and second sprays whereas during 2011 it was 89.73 and 93.42%. The trees sprayed with thiamethoxam (9105 kg/ha) and imidacloprid (9038 kg/ha) have recorded highest quantity of marketable pomegranate fruits. Thiamethoxam and imidacloprid recorded highest gross returns, net returns and maximum B:C ratio during both the years of investigation.