Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500030, India.
India is a major oilseed producer in the world. Though the oilseed production in India has doubled from 11 m tonnes in 1985–86 to 22.4 m tonnes in 1995–96, the productivity of 815 kg/ha is one of the lowest in the world. The reasons for low yields is primarily due to the cultivation of oilseed crops (76% area) under rainfed conditions, where insect pests and diseases inflict severe losses at different growth stages. Among the foliage and inflorescence feeding insect pests that attack oilseed crops, polyphagous pests such as Helicoverpa armigera. Spodoptera litura, Spilosoma obliqua, Plusia sp. and Amsacta albistriga warrant effective management. Sap sucking insectpests such as jassids, thrips, whitefly and aphids attack several oilseed crops and also act as vectors for disease transmission. Aproaerema modicella, Holotrichia consanguinea and Frank Hniella scultzei are the key pests of groundnut. Lipaphis erysimi of rapeseed-mustard, Antigastra catalaunalis of sesame, Uroleucon sp. of saffiower, Dasineura lini of linseed and Achoeajanata in castor are some of the potential problems. Major diseases affecting oilseed crops are mostly of soilborne nature viz., Fusarium oxysporum wilts, Macrophomina rot and downy mildews. Foliar diseases like tikka leaf spot and rust of groundnut, Alternaria blight of rapeseed-mustard, sunflower, saffiower and linseed, are of great concern. Use of improved package of practices viz., plant protection measures have shown the potential to step-up productivity significantly. There is a need for a systems approach by integration of potential methods, viz., resistant varieties, cultural, mechanical and chemical methods, biocontrol agents and botanicals in the form of IPM modules which may be ecofriendly and cost-effective to manage the insect pests and diseases for sustaining and enhancing the present levels of oilseed production and productivity.
