Occurrence and Insecticidal Management of Leaf Hopper (Amrasca Biguttula Biguttula Ishida) and Whitefly (Bemisia Tabaci Gennadius) in Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus)

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to study the occurrence and insecticidal management of leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida) and whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in randomized block design with three replications at Horticulture Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut during Kharif 2019. The leafhopper and whitefly population was recorded first on first week of July and reached its peak (5.50 leafhoppers and 4.63 whiteflies/leaf) during the first week of October, when mean temperature and relative humidity ranged from 25.90 to 30.00°C and 68.30 to 90.85 per cent, respectively. The leafhoppers population showed negative correlation with maximum and minimum temperature and rainfall but positive correlation with relative humidity. The whiteflies population showed negative correlation with maximum and minimum temperature and positive correlation with relative humidity and rainfall. Efficacy of different treatments viz. imidacloprid 17.8 SL, thiamethoxam 25 WG, acetamiprid 20 SP, spinosad 45 SC, oxydemeton methyl 25 EC and emamectin benzoate 5 SG tested against A. biguttula biguttula and B. tabaci revealed that all the treatments were significantly effective in reducing the population of both pest and thus increasing the yield as compared to control. The most effective treatment in reducing the population of leafhopper and whitefly was imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 100 ml/ha followed by thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 100 g/ha. The emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 200 g/ha was recorded least effective but it was significantly superior over the control. The higher fruit yield (33.78 q/ha) and highest cost benefit ratio (1:23.11) were recorded from imidacloprid 17.8 SL.