Bioefficacy of novel insecticides against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella and their impacts on natural enemies in cabbage

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the bioefficacy of novel insecticides against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. in cabbage at Agricultural Research Station, Mandor, Jodhpur during 2018–19. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with 6 treatments including untreated control. The insecticides evaluated were viz., chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 40, 50, 60 ml/ha, diafenthiuron 50% WP @ 600 g/ha and chlorpyriphos 20% EC @ 2000 ml/ha against diamondback moth when pest reached economic threshold level. After two sprays, minimum larval population was recorded in the treatment chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 60 ml/ha (6.38 larvae/5 plants) followed by chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 50 ml/ha (6.96 larvae/5 plants). Highest yield (208.60 q/ha) was recorded in chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 60 ml/ha followed by chlorantraniliprole 18.5% SC @ 50 ml/ha (200.48 q/ha). Both the treatments were on par with each other and significantly superior over control in yield. All tested insecticides were safe to natural enemies viz., coccinellid beetles and had no phyotoxic effect on cabbage crop.