Management of Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders) in Cotton through Mating Disruption

The efficacy of mating disruption of pink bollworm (PBW), Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) through PB-Rope L was evaluated in cotton, in 2005–06 and 2006–07 crop seasons by monitoring population of PBW moths with pheromone baited traps as well as by sampling flowers and bolls to record damage levels. PB-Rope L dispensers of sex pheromone were used at a rate of 250 ha⁻¹ in 20 ha treated block at pin square stage during both the crop seasons. The control block was located 2 km away with the same hybrid grown under similar agronomic practices. The treated block registered reduction of 79.4 and 93.8% PBW moth catches over the control block during 2005–06 and 2006–07, respectively. The average reduction in green boll damage, open boll damage end loculu damage due to bollworm and population of PBW larvae was 72.6 and 70.1, 68.9 ann 66.2, 76.2 and 75.4 and 52.3 and 56.7% over the control during 2005–06 and 2006–07, respectively. Significantly higher seed cotton yield (32.1 and 40.9%) over control was recorded in treated block during successive years.