MATING DISRUPTION OF PINK BOLLWORM, PECTINOPHORA GOSSYPIELLA (SAUNDERS) USING PB ROPE DISPENSERS IN COTTON GROWING AREAS OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), (Lepidoptera: Gelechidae) is considered as a notorious and destructive pest in the world and can reduce cotton yield up to 30% if not managed properly. Insect pest management through mating disruption technique offers practically an ideal approach to combat the pests. In the present study, the efficacy of mating disruption dispensers (PB rope L) for the management of pink bollworm was evaluated and the percent infestation in bolls and leftover bolls was determined in the cotton growing areas of Punjab, Pakistan during 2017. The PB ropes @100 per acre were used for each treated field of approximately 50 acres with a block of 10 acres as a control plot in the same union council of the treated plot. Calculation was made by comparing infestation and cotton yield in treated field with that of control field. The PB rope significantly reduced both the number of males in the sex pheromone traps and cotton bolls damage. Results revealed that PB rope during the first pin square period (45 days after sowing) effectively minimized the damage even in leftover bolls. The yield of treated field was enhanced compared with control field by 31% in 2017. Infestation in leftover bolls was estimated by comparing cotton bolls collected from control field with bolls from the treated field. The results reflected 1.56% damage in control field and 0.30% damage in treated field with a difference of 1.26 (80% reduction in damage in treated plots). Result indicated that PB rope disrupted the pest mating effectively during July to October.