Bio-Effectiveness of a Pro-Insecticide, Diafenthiuron 50% WP Against Diamond Back Moth, Plutella xylostella (Lin.) in Cabbage in Gangetic Alluvial Plains of West Bengal

Diamond back moth (DBM), Plutella xylostellrf Lin.) has crippled the production of cabbage all over the world having the capacity to dwindle down yield and cause even up to 100% crop loss. Since chemical control has been the most effective means of management over decades, an attempt was made to evaluate diafenthiuron 50% WP on the basis of its bio-effectiveness, non-target toxidty and phytotoxicity in the present experiment. The results exhibited that diafenthiuron 50% WP at the rate of 600 ml/ha provided most effective reduction of DBM population (88.68%-90.82% reduction of pest over control) with substantial increase in yield (184.75 q/ha) subsequently the highest cost benefit ratio of 1: 5.89. All the doses of test molecule were found to be soft against prevailing coccinellids and hymenopteran parasitoids. Further it was observed that the test chemical did not produce any phytotoxic symptoms.

Diafenthiuron 50% WP @ 600ml/ha provided effective reduction of DBM in cabbage and was soft to prevailing natural enemies without any phytotoxicity.