EFFICACY OF NEWER MOLECULES AGAINST Plutella xylostella Linn.

A field experiment was conducted with 12 treatments viz., Bacillus thuringiensis @ 500 g.a.i.ha−1, endosulfan @ 350 g.a.i.ha−1, cypermethrin @ 60 g.a.i.ha−1, spinosad @ 96.4 g.a.i.ha−1, flufenoxuron @ 80, g.a.i.ha−1, (imidacloprid + spinosad) @ 26.70 + 18.75 g.a.i.ha−1, thiodicarb @ 350 g.a.i.ha−1, cartap hydrocloride @ 375 g.a.i.ha−1, indoxacarb @ 73 g.a.i.ha−1, NSKE 5% and quinalphos @ 150 g.a.i.ha−1 with one control, replicated thrice for two years to study the efficacy of these insecticides against Plutella xylostella Linn. The pooled data revealed that imidacloprid 17.8 SL + spinosad 2.5 SC @ 26.70 + 18.75 g.a.i.ha−1 was recorded the lowest population of P. xylostella 2.33 larvae 10 plants−1, 4.74 larvae 10 plants−1, 10.26 larvae 10 plants−1 and 17.94 larvae 10 plants−1 on 3rd, 7th, 10th and 14th day after spraying which was followed by spinosad 45 SC @ 96.4 g.a.i.ha−1 (2.55, 5.00, 12.05 & 19.96 larvae 10 plants−1) and indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 73 g a.i.ha−1 (2.73, 5.13, 13.45 & 22.51 larvae 10 plants−1) on 3rd, 7th, 10th and 14th days after spraying. On 3rd and 7th day after spraying, all these 3 treatments were at par with each other. However, on 10th day after spraying imidacloprid 17.8 SL + spinosad 2.5 SC @ 26.70 + 18.75 g.a.i.ha−1 was significantly superior over rest of the two treatments and on 14th days after spraying it was found at par with spinosad 45 SC @ 96.4 g.a.i.ha−1. The maximum larval population was recorded in untreated control 41.34, 54.45, 64.50 & 76.46 larvae 10 plants−1 on 3rd, 7th, 10th and 14th days after spraying respectively. The highest yield of cauliflower curd was recorded 239.92 qt ha−1 in plot treated with imidacloprid + spinosad which was significantly superior over spinosad @ 45 SC (214.42 qt ha−1) and indoxacarb @ 14.5 SC (206.94 qt.ha−1). The lowest yield was recorded in untreated control 88.03 q ha−1.