Management of Pod Fly, Melanagromyza obtusa Malloch (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Pigeonpea Varieties Sown Across Different Dates

An experiment conducted during kharif, 2019–20 (July 2019-February 2020) at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Kalaburagi, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka, India on the management of pod fly with recommended chemicals (Imidacloprid 17.8 SL 0.20 ml+jaggary 10 g l^-1 as first spray at 10 days after pod formation and second spray with Thiamethoxam 25 WG 0.2 g+jaggary 10 g l^-1 at 15 days after first spray) in pigeonpea varieties sown under different dates revealed, minimum pod damage (21.07%), seed damage (14.51%) and yield (1062.66 kg ha^-1) in variety TS 3R. However, significantly higher pod damage, seed damage and yield of 31.47%, 24.89% and 1251.13 kg ha^-1, respectively was found in variety BSMR 736. Among different sowing dates, the crop sown on 20^th July recorded significantly least pod damage (21.07%) and seed damage (14.06%) compared to 20^th August sown crop which recorded significantly higher pod damage of 32.13% and seed damage of 25.86%. Yield was significantly higher in 20^th July sown crop (1295.89 kg ha^-1) and it was lower in the crop sown on 20^th August (1032.90 kg ha^-1). With respect to management, minimum pod damage (17.07%) and seed damage (11.52%) was noticed in protected plots while it was maximum in unprotected plots with 35.02 and 26.62% pod and seed damage, respectively. The yield was significantly higher in protected plots (1242.37 kg ha^-1) when compared to unprotected plots (1080.65 kg ha^-1).