Tag: integrated pest management

• Tomato is affected by several major insect pests causing significant yield loss.
• Pests attack various plant parts: leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits.
• Effective management requires understanding pest biology and damage symptoms.

• Family: Noctuidae; Order: Lepidoptera

Economic Importance:

• Serious pest in tropical and subtropical regions.
• Also attacks other crops like pigeon pea and chickpea.

Identification:

• Caterpillar: Variable color, radiating hairs, greenish with dark lines.
• Moth: Medium-sized, light brown, forewings with dark spot, smoky hindwings.

• Eggs laid on tender plant parts.
• Larval stage lasts 18–25 days; pupates in soil.
• Complete life cycle: 30–40 days.

Nature of Damage:

• Young larvae feed on foliage; older larvae bore into fruits.
• Bore circular holes, feed inside fruits, causing secondary infections.
• One larva can damage multiple fruits.

• Collect and destroy infested fruits and larvae.
• Deep ploughing after harvest to expose pupae.
• Intercrop with marigold (1:16 ratio) to attract egg-laying adults.

Biological Control:

• Release Trichogramma spp. and Chrysoperla carnea.
• Spray Bacillus thuringiensis or HaNPV.

Chemical Control:

• Use pheromone traps (Helilure) at 12/ha.
• Apply insecticides: Azadirachtin, Indoxacarb, Flubendiamide, Novaluron, Phosalone, Quinalphos as per recommended doses.

• Family: Agromyzidae; Order: Diptera

Identification:

• Larva: Minute, orange-yellow, apodous maggots.
• Adult: Pale yellow, small fly.

Life Cycle:

• Eggs laid singly on upper leaf surface.
• Larval period: 7–10 days; pupation in soil or leaves.
• Total life cycle: ~3 weeks.

Nature of Damage:

• Larvae mine between leaf epidermis, creating serpentine trails.
• Severe infestation leads to leaf drying and drop.

Management:

• Remove and destroy mined leaves.
• Spray neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) 5%.

• Family: Gelechiidae; Order: Lepidoptera

Nature of Damage:

• Larvae mine leaves, stems, and fruits, causing blotches and galleries.
• Leads to fruit damage and yield loss.

Management:

• Use pheromone traps for monitoring and mass trapping.
• Release natural enemies (Trichogramma spp.).
• Apply Bacillus thuringiensis or selective insecticides as needed.

• Family: Aleyrodidae; Order: Hemiptera

Identification:

• Egg: Pear-shaped, light yellow.
• Nymph: Oval, scale-like, greenish-white.
• Adult: Tiny, white, scale-like.

Nature of Damage:

• Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing chlorosis and leaf curling.
• Vector of tomato leaf curl virus.

Management:

• Remove and destroy infected plants and weeds.
• Use yellow sticky traps (12/ha).
• Apply carbofuran or recommended insecticides: Dimethoate, Malathion, Oxydemeton-methyl, Thiamethoxam.

• Family: Aphididae; Order: Hemiptera

Nature of Damage:

• Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing yellowing and deformation.
• Honeydew secretion leads to sooty mould growth, reducing photosynthesis.

Management:

• Seed treatment with imidacloprid or thiamethoxam.
• Use yellow sticky traps.

• Family: Thripidae; Order: Thysanoptera

Identification:

• Nymphs: Yellowish; Adults: Dark with fringed wings.

Nature of Damage:

• Silvery streaks on leaves, bud necrosis, flower drop.
• Vector of tomato spotted wilt virus.

Management:

• Uproot and destroy diseased plants.
• Use yellow sticky traps (15/ha).
• Release Chrysoperla carnea larvae.
• Spray methyl demeton or dimethoate as per recommendations.

• Family: Tetranychidae; Order: Acarina

Identification:

• Eggs: Hyaline, globular, laid in masses.
• Nymphs: Yellowish; Adults: Small, red.

Nature of Damage:

• Leaves turn reddish-brown, bronzed, and dry.
• Webbing on leaves; affects flower and fruit formation.

Management:

• Spray wettable sulphur (50 WP, 2g/lit) or dicofol (18.5 EC, 2.5 ml/lit).

• Combine cultural, biological, and chemical methods for effective pest control.
• Monitor fields regularly for early pest detection.
• Use resistant varieties and crop rotation.
• Promote natural enemies and minimize pesticide use.

• Tomato is susceptible to several insect pests causing significant yield loss.
• Major pests include fruit borer, leaf miner, whitefly, aphids, thrips, and red spider mite.
• Effective management requires understanding pest biology and damage symptoms.
• Integrated pest management (IPM) combines cultural, biological, and chemical methods.

• Family: Noctuidae; Order: Lepidoptera

Identification:

• Caterpillars: Varying color, radiating hairs, brown to greenish with dark lines.
• Moth: Medium-sized, light yellowish brown, forewings with dark spot, hindwings pale with black border.

Life Cycle:

• Eggs laid on tender plant parts.
• Larval period: 18–25 days; pupates in soil.
• Total life cycle: ~30–40 days.

• Young larvae feed on foliage; mature larvae bore into fruits.
• Circular holes on fruits; larvae feed inside, causing internal damage.
• Damaged fruits often infected by secondary pathogens.
• One larva may damage multiple fruits (2–8).

• Collect and destroy infested fruits and larvae.
• Deep ploughing after harvest exposes pupae to predators.
• Intercrop with marigold (1:16 ratio with tomato).

Biological:

• Release Trichogramma spp. and Chrysoperla carnea.
• Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (2g/litre) or HaNPV @ 250 LE/ha.

Chemical:

• Use pheromone traps (Helilure) @ 12/ha.
• Spray recommended insecticides: Azadirachtin, Indoxacarb, Flubendiamide, Novaluron, Phosalone, Quinalphos (as per label rates).

• Family: Agromyzidae; Order: Diptera

Identification:

• Larva: Minute, orange-yellow, apodous maggot.
• Adult: Pale yellow, small fly.

Life Cycle:

• Eggs laid singly on upper leaf surface.
• Larval period: 7–10 days; pupation in soil or leaves.
• Total life cycle: ~3 weeks.

• Larvae mine between leaf epidermal layers, creating serpentine trails.
• Severe infestation causes leaf drying and drop.

Management:

• Collect and destroy mined leaves.
• Spray neem seed kernel extract (NSKE) 5%.

• Family: Aleyrodidae; Order: Hemiptera

Identification:

• Eggs: Pear-shaped, light yellow.
• Nymphs: Oval, scale-like, greenish-white.
• Adults: Tiny, white, scale-like.

Nature of Damage:

• Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing chlorosis and leaf curling.
• Vector of tomato leaf curl virus.

• Uproot and destroy virus-infected plants.
• Remove alternate weed hosts (e.g., Abutilon indicum).
• Use yellow sticky traps (12/ha).
• Apply carbofuran 3% G @ 40 kg/ha.
• Spray insecticides: Dimethoate, Malathion, Oxydemeton-methyl, Thiamethoxam (as per label rates).

• Family: Aphididae; Order: Hemiptera

Nature of Damage:

• Nymphs and adults suck sap, causing yellowing and deformation.
• Honeydew secretion promotes sooty mould, reducing photosynthesis.

Management:

• Seed treatment with imidacloprid or thiamethoxam.
• Use yellow sticky traps.

• Family: Thripidae; Order: Thysanoptera

Identification:

• Nymphs: Yellowish; Adults: Dark with fringed wings.

Nature of Damage:

• Silvery streaks on leaves, bud necrosis, flower drop.
• Vector of tomato spotted wilt virus.

Management:

• Remove and destroy diseased plants.
• Use yellow sticky traps (15/ha).
• Release Chrysoperla carnea larvae (10,000/ha).
• Spray methyl demeton or dimethoate (as per label rates).

• Family: Tetranychidae; Order: Acarina

Identification:

• Eggs: Hyaline, globular, laid in masses.
• Nymphs: Yellowish; Adults: Small, red.

Nature of Damage:

• Leaves turn reddish-brown, bronzed; webbing present.
• Severe infestation leads to leaf drying and reduced fruit set.

Management:

• Spray wettable sulphur 50 WP (2g/litre).
• Spray dicofol 18.5 EC (2.5 ml/litre).

• Combine cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical methods for sustainable pest control.
• Monitor pest populations regularly for timely intervention.
• Promote use of resistant varieties and natural enemies.
• Minimize pesticide use to prevent resistance and protect beneficial organisms.

• Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is affected by several fungal and viral diseases.
• Major diseases: Powdery mildew, Fusarium wilt, Alternaria leaf spot, Yellow vein mosaic.
• Effective management requires knowledge of pathogens, symptoms, and control measures.

• White or grayish powdery growth on upper leaf surfaces, later covering entire leaf.
• Lower leaf surfaces may also be infected.
• Affected leaves dry and fall prematurely, reducing yield.

Disease Cycle:

• Overwinters as dormant mycelium or cleistothecia on infected leaves.
• Secondary spread by wind-borne conidia.
• Favored by 60–80% relative humidity and dry conditions.

Management:

• Spray fungicides: wettable sulphur (0.25%), dinocap (0.1%), carbendazim (0.1%), hexaconazole (0.05%), or difenoconazole (0.05%).
• Repeat sprays at 10–14 day intervals.
• Biocontrol: Ampelomyces quisqualis, Trichoderma spp., Bacillus subtilis.
• Use azadirachtin (0.03% EC) as needed.

• Yellowing, stunting, wilting, and rolling of leaves.
• Dark brown vascular discoloration in stems.
• Severe cases: stem blackening and plant death.

Etiology:

• Produces hyaline mycelium, microconidia (single/two-celled), macroconidia (3–4 septa), and chlamydospores.

Disease Cycle:

• Survives as chlamydospores in soil and infected seeds.
• Optimum temperature for growth: 25°C; disease develops at 22–28°C.

Management:

• Use healthy, treated seed (carbendazim 0.2%).
• Practice crop rotation and soil solarization.
• Remove and destroy affected plants.
• Grow resistant varieties: CS-3232, CS-8899, IS-6653, IS-7194, Pusa Makhameli, Pusa Sawani.

• Brown leaf spots with pale margins and yellow halos.
• Lesions enlarge, show concentric rings, and coalesce.
• Severe infection causes leaf drying and defoliation.

Etiology:

• Produces cylindrical conidiophores and brown, muriform conidia with transverse and longitudinal septa.

Disease Cycle:

• Survives in infected plant debris, weed hosts, and seeds.
• Secondary spread by wind-borne conidia.

Management:

• Remove and destroy infected debris and weeds.
• Seed treatment with Thiram (6 g/kg).
• Spray Mancozeb (0.2%) after disease appearance.

• Vein yellowing and thickening, forming a network pattern.
• Leaves become chlorotic and yellow under severe infection.
• Plants are stunted with small, pale fruits.

Disease Cycle:

• Transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) in a persistent manner.
• Wild and cultivated plants act as inoculum sources.
• Favored by dry, hot weather with low rainfall.

Management:

• Destroy wild hosts and avoid mixed cropping with pumpkin.
• Adjust sowing dates to avoid peak whitefly populations.
• Remove infected plants up to 55 days after sowing.
• Grow resistant cultivars: Punjab Padmini, Punjab-8, Prabhani Kranti, Hissar Unnat.
• Spray systemic insecticides (cypermethrin, deltamethrin, triazophos) to control vectors.

• Use disease-free, treated seeds and resistant varieties.
• Practice crop rotation, field sanitation, and timely removal of infected plants.
• Apply recommended fungicides and insecticides judiciously.
• Adopt biological control agents where feasible.
• Monitor fields regularly for early detection and management.

• Cabbage and cauliflower are susceptible to several fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases.
• Diseases can cause significant yield and quality losses.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) combines multiple strategies for effective disease control.
• Accurate identification is crucial for selecting appropriate management methods.

• Seedlings rot at soil level and collapse.
• Poor germination and patchy stands in nursery beds.

Management:

• Use well-drained, sterilized nursery beds.
• Avoid overwatering.
• Treat seeds with fungicides (e.g., Thiram, Captan).
• Practice crop rotation.

• Yellow spots on upper leaf surface.
• White, downy growth on lower leaf surface.
• Stunted plant growth.

Management:

• Use resistant varieties.
• Ensure good field drainage and air circulation.
• Apply fungicides (e.g., Metalaxyl, Mancozeb) as needed.

• V-shaped yellow lesions at leaf margins.
• Blackening of veins.
• Wilting and stunted growth.

Management:

• Use certified disease-free seeds.
• Practice crop rotation (2–3 years).
• Remove and destroy infected plants.
• Apply copper-based bactericides if needed.

• Dark brown to black concentric spots on leaves.
• Leaf blight and defoliation in severe cases.

Management:

• Use disease-free seeds and resistant varieties.
• Remove crop debris after harvest.
• Apply fungicides (e.g., Mancozeb, Chlorothalonil).

• Swollen, club-shaped roots.
• Wilting and stunted growth, especially in acidic soils.

Management:

• Practice long crop rotation (4–7 years).
• Apply lime to raise soil pH above 7.0.
• Use resistant varieties where available.

• Use certified, disease-free seeds and resistant varieties.
• Practice crop rotation and field sanitation.
• Monitor fields regularly for early disease detection.
• Apply biological control agents (e.g., Trichoderma spp.).
• Use chemical control judiciously, following recommended guidelines.