Biorational approaches for management of Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Cotton - an overview

Pink bollworm (PBW), Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) which is widely regarded as a devastating pest of cotton all over the world has developed resistance against various insecticides. Its management is a major challenge for the cotton growers, specially due to break down of resistance in Bt cotton. Various Integrated pest management practices like sowing of cotton during recommended time of sowing be it long duration Gossypium hirsutum varieties or medium or short season varieties. During the season, regular monitoring for rosette flowers and green boll damage due to PBW until the harvest of the crop is beneficial. Certain off-season Cultural practises, like sanitation of ginning factories and field sanitation, allowing cattle, sheep, and goats to graze on immature green and attacked bolls after final picking, prevents pest carryover to the next crop season. The use of bio agents have also resulted in better suppressing of PBW population. Similarly, the use of certain botanicals like ethanolic extracts of the two plants, Calotropis procera and Ocimum sanctum, compatibility of entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) with Azadirachta indica extract (alone and in combinations), extracts of tobacco, neem and datura, certain growth regulators like diofenolan reduces the adult emergence to a greater extent. Further, integrated management of pink bollworm using a sex pheromone formulation and mating disruption technique was found practical and ideal approach.