1Department of Entomology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Nauni, Solan-173 230 (Himachal Pradesh)
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Shimla at Rohru-171 207, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (Himachal Pradesh)
*Corresponding Author's Email: twinkle_banshtu5@yahoo.in
Online published on 3 July, 2020.
The present investigations on efficacy of insecticides and biopesticides namely Thiacloprid, Chlorpyriphos, Beauveria bassiana and Azadirachtin against blossom thrips infesting apple crops were carried out at the experimental farm of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Shimla, during two consecutive years. The experiment comprised of five treatments viz., T1-Thiacloprid @0.012%, T2-Chlorpyriphos @0.04%, T3-Beauveria bassiana @0.5%, T4-Azadirachtin @0.0003% and T5-Control (water only). Spray was applied at pink bud stage and the data on thrips population were recorded after 3, 5, 7 and 10 days. The thrips population decreased in all the treatments except control. The minimum thrips count was recorded with the spray of Thiacloprid (2.0 thrips/flower) followed by Chlorpyriphos (2.1thrips/flower). The treatment with the biopesticides namely B. bassiana (4.2 thrips/flower) and Azadirachtin (4.5 thrips/flower) were though superior over control (12.0 thrips/flower) but was not as effective compared to insecticides. The per cent fruit set varied between 38–40 per cent with all treatments except for control (32%). No phytotoxicity symptoms were recorded in any of the treatments.
Apple, Thrips, Thiacloprid, Chlorpyriphos, Beauveria bassiana, Azadirachtin
