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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 was no significant difference in the mean numbers of mustard twig infected by
aphid prior to spraying of both imidacloprid, thiamethoxam malathion and control at 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 and enhance
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.
Keywords: Neonicotinoids, Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Malathion, Mustard