Evaluation of insecticides with novel mode of action against pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders)

Pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) has become a major threat to the cotton production worldwide, causing 20-90% crop losses. Therefore, a study was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad to evaluate novel molecules against pink bollworm of cotton under rainfed conditions during 2021-23. The results indicated that, among different combinations, profenofos 40% + cypermethrin 4% EC proved to be significantly effective and offered lowest number of larvae of 3.8 per 20 bolls with reduction of 88.5%, more of good opened bolls (35.7 per plant), bad opened bolls (6.4 per plant) with least open boll damage of 15.6% compared to individual formulations. Among various individual formulations, spinetoram 11.7 SC registered significantly lowest larval population of 3.8 per 20 bolls with a reduction of 88.4% proved superior to other treatments, with the highest number of green bolls (35.1 of GOB per pant) and least number of BOB per plant 6.8% per plant. Overall, the combination of insecticides viz, profenofos 40% + cypermethrin 4% EC given the better management of pink bollworm with reduction of 88.5% with higher seed cotton yield (14.84 q ha^-1) and B:C ratio of 2.2. Deploying of insecticide molecules has proven effective in controlling of pink bollworm.