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International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2016, Volume : 4, Issue : 3
First page : (5) Last page : (11)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2277

Effectiveness of neonicotinoids and organophosphate in the control of aphid and enhancement of pod formation in mustard crop in India

Moses I. Olotu*
Department of Life Sciences, Mkwawa University College of Education (MUCE), P.O. Box 2513 Iringa, Tanzania
*Corresponding Author E-mail: m2olotu@gmail.com
Received: 25.04.2016  |  Revised: 10.05.2016   |  Accepted: 16.05.2016  

Abstract
Mustard, Brassica juncea, is an economically important crop in India, the country annually produces 6-8 tons of mustard seeds and ranks third in the world production. Its production is, however infested by mustard aphid, Lipachis erysimi. The effectiveness of neonicotinoids and organophosphate insecticides was evaluated at mustard fields planted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the efficacy of the two neonicotinoids (imidacloprid and thiomethoxam) and that of an organophosphate (malathion) in the management of mustard aphid and the enhancement of pod formation at different experimental sites. The insecticides were applied at the floral parts of randomly selected mustard crop plants. There wasno significant difference in the mean numbers of mustard twig infected by aphid prior to spraying of both imidacloprid, thiamethoxammalathion and controlat the mustard inflorescences in the two fields. However, following the application of the insecticides, the mean numbers of infected inflorescences generally continued to increase in the untreated plot throughout the experimental period but decreased significantly in all the treatments (F(3,599) = 37.42; P <0.0001). The mean numbers of pods developed per twig was not significantly different prior to the spraying but increases significantly in all the treatments after the spraying (F (3,599) = 28.31; P <0.0001).
The application of neonicotinoids and organophosphate can effectively control aphid andenhance pod formation in the mustard crop. The organophosphate (malathion) is more recommended insecticide to control mustard aphid as neonicotinoids are suspected to affect bee pollinators in agro-ecosystems in India.

Key words:Neonicotinoids, Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Malathion, Mustard

Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782


Cite this article: Olotu, M.I., Effectiveness of neonicotinoids and organophosphate in the control of aphid and enhancement of pods formation in mustard crop in India, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.4(3): 5-11 (2016). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2277