Management of sterility mosaic disease through vector management

Field experiments were conducted to ascertain the efficacy of seven different chemicals (one botanical insecticide and six acaricides) viz., azadirachtin (multineem), dicofol (hiltol), fenazaquin (acegold), propargite (simbaa), wettableSulphur (mitsul), diafenthurion (derby), and spiromesifen(oberon) against Sterility Mosaic Disease (SMD) in pigeonpea under field conditions. Comprehensive analysis of data demonstrated that WettableSulphur50 WP (3 g/1) treated plot recorded the lowest incidence (7.00% and 7.30%) followed by Dicofol 18.5 EC (2.5 ml/1) which recorded an incidence of 13.02 and 11.6 per cent, respectively, at 45 and 60 days after first and second sprayfor SMD incidence as compared to 46.1 per cent in untreated control which accounted for the disease reduction of 78.14 per cent. Wettablesulphur50 WP (3 g/1) spray reduced the mite (Aceria cajani) population by 93.72 per cent followed by Dicofol 18.5 EC (2.5 ml/1) with the population reduction of 83.72 per cent. Wettablesulphur50 WP (3 g/1) spray also influenced to record the highest yield of 16.25 q ha¹ as against 3.56q ha1in untreated plot and therefore, WettableSulphur and Dicofolcould be the best alternative for the management of SMD in pigeonpea under field conditions.