Bioefficacy of diafenthiuron 50 WP from new source against sucking insect pests in Bt cotton

Field studies were conducted during two consecutive Kharif seasons of 2011 and 2012 in order to evaluate the bio-efficacy of diafenthiuron 50 WP from New source (NS) along with diafenthiuron 50 WP from Existing source (EX) @ 300 g a.i./ha and imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 20 g a.i./ha as standard check against sucking pest complex of cotton. Diafenthiuron 50 WP (NS)@ 300 g a. i./ha was found highly effective in reducing the population of aphid, jassid, thrips and whitefly in cotton followed by imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 20 g a.i./ha. The seed cotton yield was also recorded to be significantly highest in diafenthiuron 50 WP (NS)@ 300 g a.i./ha (32.5 q/ha) followed by imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 20 g a.i./ha (30.2 q/ha) and diafenthiuron 50 WP (NS) @ 250 g a. i./ha. (30.1 q/ha). Considering the bio-efficacy and yield, diafenthiuron 50 WP (NS) @ 300 g a.i./ha was found effective against major sucking pests in Bt cotton.