Preventive seed treatment for the management of mealybug and flea beetle in kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus L.

Laboratory and glass house experiments were conducted to study the effect of preventive seed treatment of kenaf (Cv. HC-583) with neonicotinoid insecticides i.e., thiamethoxam, imidacloprid and clothianidin on seed germination and seedling parameters as well as the toxicity and bio-efficacy against mealybug and flea beetle. The insecticides used showed no adverse effect on germination and seedling growth rather improved these parameters. The systemic toxic effect of the insecticides persisted in the treated plants with reduced infestation and damage of mealybug till 75 DAS. At this stage, the infestation (38.40%) and damage grade (0.49) in thiamethoxam was significantly less than all other treatments and control. In case of flea beetle, although initial toxicity was more in case of clothianidin and imidacloprid but persistent toxicity of thiamethoxam showed greater mortality of the flea beetles till 60 DAS.