Screening of Mustard Varieties Against Mustard Aphid, Lipaphis Erysimi (Kaltenbach) and Its Eco-friendly Management

Abstract

An investigation titled “Screening of Mustard Varieties against Mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) and its Eco-friendly Management” was carried out in the Crop Research Centre (C.R.C.) of Sardar Vallabh bhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut, U.P. during Rabi, 2021-22 and 2022-23. Out of the twenty varieties screened, two were (PM-30, RH-749) highly resistant, ten were (PM-31, Tarak, Azad, Kranthi, Shivalik, Geetha, Varuna, RH-704, Pusa Jagannath, DRMP) graded into resistant and eight varieties (PM-28, PM-29, PM-22, Urvashi, Pusa Agrani, Pusa Mahak, Pusa Bold, Pusa Jai Kisan) exhibited moderately resistant reaction. Except chlorophyll content of leaves, none of the biophysical parameters (Leaf area Index, No. of branches per plant, No. of siliquae per plant, Pod length (cm), Plant height (cm)) has shown significant correlation with the intensity of aphid infestation. The aphid infested plants have shown reduced chlorophyll content which indicates the reduced rate of photosynthesis. Regarding the Biochemical Parameters, varieties which are having high amount of total phenols and total Glucosinolates have shown less aphid incidence and then resistant reaction. The total protein content too exhibited the same impact on intensity of aphid infestation. The insect-pest complex associated with the mustard crop includes Mustard sawfly, Mustard aphid, Cabbage butterfly, Painted bug and Green stink bug. Abiotic factors particularly temperature and relative humidity has shown significant impact on the insect-pest complex of mustard crop. Except Mustard aphid, the association of remaining pests with the mustard crop was very less but mustard aphid remained long period and reached to peak stage during 8th standard week with maximum aphid population of 121 aphid/plant. On the other hand, coccinellid predators were found from 49th standard week, with the peak population of 12.6 beetle/plant during 10th standard week. Dimethoate @ 625 ml/ha has proven as the best treatment in suppressing aphid population followed by Imidacloprid @ 200 ml/ha and Thiamethoxam @ 50 gm/ha. In case of non-chemical insecticides, Verticillium lecanii @ 1 lit/ha and Neem oil @ 1.5 lit/ha were on par with each other followed by Beauveria bassiana @ 2 kg/ha. ICBR (Incremental Cost Benefit Ratio) was highest (6.28) from Dimethoate @ 625 ml/ha treatment and lowest (2.54) from Beauveria bassiana @ 2 kg/ha. treatment. It was 5.53, 5.77, 3.23 and 3.22 for Imidacloprid @ 200 ml/ha, Thiamethoxam @ 50 gm/ha, Neem oil @ 1.5 lit/ha and Verticillium lecanii @ 1 lit/ha respectively.