TWO APPLICATIONS OF PB-ROPES AS AN EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR PECTINOPHORA GOSSYPIELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: GELECHIIDAE)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to observe the effectiveness and working duration of PB-Ropes in the cotton season 2018-19. The gossyplure baited traps were installed in the last week of June for monitoring of pink bollworm (PBW) while application of PB-Ropes was done @ 120 ropes / acre at pin head square stage on 30 acres of cotton during 1st week of July. The percent infestation of PBW in green bolls and number of moth catches were recorded from the plots treated with 2 applications of PB-Ropes alone and 1 application of PB-Ropes + insecticide application. The PBropes provide mating disruption for the period of 90 days. The percent infestation ingreen bolls was decreased effectively by two applications of PBropes as compared to one application of PB-Ropes and Control Plot.The number of moth catches were highly reduced in the plot treated with two applications of PB-ropes (6.07 ± 0.70) as compared to one application of PB-ropes (28.05 ± 3.16) and control plot (40.439 ± 3.62). The further application of pesticides was done to decrease the % infestation of pink bollworm in the plots treated with PB-Rope + Triazophos @ 600 ml /acre (9.6061 ± 0.9873), PB-Rope + Bifenthrin 10 % EC@ 250 ml / acre (11.848 ± 1.4921) and PB-Rope + Spintoram 12 % SC (14.273 ± 1.5838). The results of this study also provided best and long term approach to farmers for the effective management of pink bollwormby the two applications of PB-Ropes to cover full cotton season as compared to one application of PB-Ropes. The use of two applications of PB-Ropes proved effective and provides cost benefit to farmer as compared to the use of insecticide for the management of the Pink bollworm.