Role of induced host plant resistance in the management of Thrips tabaci lindeman (Thripide: Thysanoptera) in onion

A Field experiment was conducted during September to December 2009 in farmers field at Karapalayam village, Tirupur district, Tamil Nadu with bulb planting of onion to study the effect of induced resistance on the incidence of Thrips tabaci (Thripidae:Thysanoptera) and occurrence of natural enemies in the onion ecosystem. The various combinations of organic nutrients such as FYM, vermicompost, neem cake, biofertilizers and Pseudomonas fluorescence were used. Among the various organics tested the combination of NPK + FYM + biofertilizers + neem cake recorded the lowest incidence of Thrips tabaci compared to the treatments receiving inorganic NPK alone. The highest bulb yield of 19.50 t/ha was obtained in the treatment where, recommended dose of inorganic nutrients was applied along with farm yard manure, biofertilizers and neem cake.