Appraisal of the Efficacy of New Molecule Viola 10 SC (Flupyrimin) against Rice Plant Hoppers and their Natural Enemies under Punjab Conditions

Viola 10 SC (Flupyrimin 10% SC), an insecticide of neonicotinoid class, was evaluated @ 500, 750 and 1000 ml / ha against rice planthoppers viz., brown planthopper (BPH) and the whitebacked planthopper (WBPH) infesting rice at farmer's field in district Amritsar during Kharif 2023 and 2024 seasons and was compared with the test insecticide Chess 50 WG (Pymetrozine) @ 300 g / ha. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications at each of the 3 farmer field's locations. Viola 10 SC showed increased efficacy in suppressing the BPH with increase in the concentration of the insecticide and days after spraying. Viola 10 SC @ 750 ml / ha was statistically at par with the control, Chess 50 WG @ 300 g / ha recording 1.07 BPH/hill after 3 days of insecticide application during the Kharif season 2024. Similar results with the test insecticide were also observed against white backed planthoppers. After 10 days of insecticide application, the test insecticide @ 750 ml / ha recorded population of 0.73 hoppers/hill (pooled mean of 3 locations) and it was at par with Chess 50 WG (1.0 hoppers/hill) with 92.79 per cent suppression in BPH population after 10 days of insecticide application during the Kharif season 2024. Highest basmati yield of 49.92 q / ha was obtained with Viola 10 SC @ 750 ml / hawhich was statistically higher than the basmati yield of 49.42 q / ha in Check 50 WG @ 300 g / ha and untreated control (43.75 q / ha). The test insecticide Viola 10 SC was also found safe to the natural enemies. Hence, the new insecticide, a blue chemistry compound, is effective against sap feeders infesting basmati rice and will help in better management of these insect pests. It will also enhance the choice of farmers in selecting insecticides from different groups.