Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems

Plutella xylostella is one of the most important constraints in cauliflower production. Chemical control measures are not very effective due to the development of resistance to many insecticides and hence biointensive management is desirable. Field experiments were conducted by integration of Gibberellic acid (GA₃) and Pseudomonas fluorescens along with various combinations of Bacillus thuringiensis var kurstaki (Btk) and P. xylostella granulosis virus (PxGV) during kharif and rabi seasons of 2004–05 at Thondamuthur and Boluvampatty villages of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. The treatment GA₃ @ 100 ppm + P. fluorescens @ 5 kg ha⁻¹ + Btk 1 kg ha⁻¹ in alternation with PxGV @ 1.5x10¹³ OB ha⁻¹ recorded significantly lower incidence of P. xylostella and increased curd yield of cauliflower (32.33 t ha⁻¹ and 35.33 t ha⁻¹).