Journal of Hill Agriculture

Several insecticides namely Fipronil 200 SC, Triazophos 40 EC, Imidacloprid 30.5 SC, Malathion 50 EC and Dimethoate 30 EC, were tested at their recommended doses for efficacy against whiteflies (Bemisia tabacci Genn.) on three different mungbean varieties viz. ML-818, SML-668 and ML1165. Experiments were laid at Pulses Research Sub Station, SKUAST-J, Samba during two consecutive kharif seasons, in a factorial Randomized Block Design. Insecticidal sprays were given at 50 days after sowing when the pest populations were maximum. Observations were made 2, 5 and 7 days after spray. Whitefly/cage population was least in fipronil sprayed plants during both the seasons followed by triazophos and imidacloprid. All the three mungbean varieties carried almost similar pest load. With the increase in number of days after spray whitefly populations increased. There was an increase in diseases viz., yellow mosaic, leaf curl and leaf crinkle, all being transmitted by whiteflies in a persistent manner. However, the three different mungbean varieties showed different reactions to the disease. ML-1165 showed maximum susceptibility to all the three diseases, while ML-818 and SML-668 were at par. Yield losses due to these mungbean diseases transmitted by whiteflies can therefore be reduced by growing resistant varieties and by application of single spray of new insecticides, fipronil, triazophos or imidacloprid at the right crop growth stage.