Evaluation of biopesticides against major insect pests on mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Introduction

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) belongs to the family Brassicaceae or Cruciferae originated from Asia or Egypt. Various varieties of mustard and rapeseed are cultivated around the nation. Mohori (Marathi) is a commonly produced oilseed crop in India, also known as Rai or Sarson in Hindi. With a volume of 68.87 million tonnes, mustard is the second-largest oilseed in the world and has grown to be a significant component of the Indian economy, ranking second in terms of acreage after peanuts (Anonymous, 2021) [2] . India made up 13.14 percent of global production with a total area of 6.23 m ha, an output of 8.57 MT, and a productivity of 14.99 q ha -1 . Rajasthan contributes 38.07 percent of the country's land and 43.69 percent of its production. Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam, West Bengal, Punjab, and Maharashtra are the primary mustard and rapeseed producing states in India (Anonymous, 2019) [1] . About 43 insect species have been recorded infesting this crop (Khan et al., 2013) and among these aphids (Lipaphis erysimi L.), saw fly (Athalia lugens proxima L.), painted bug (Bagrada cruciferarum L.), leaf miner (Chromatomyia horticola L.), flea beetle (Phyllotreta Cruciferae L.), cabbage webber and pod borer (Crocidolomia binotalis L.) and cabbage butterfly (Pieris brassicae L.) are the important insect pests. Besides, insect pests like Bihar hairy caterpillar, Spilosoma obliqua L. Walker (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), Cabbage head borer: Hellula undalis L. Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) and Diamondback moth: Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) also infest the crop sporadically. Recently tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura L.) has been reported as the major insect pests of mustard in different locations of Orrisa. However, with increase in cropping intensity and the changing cropping patterns under different agro climatic conditions, the pest complex of the crop has changed (Divya et al., 2015) [4] . To manage insect pests on mustard crops, a number of ways have been adjusted; chemical management is one of the most widely used pest control strategies. Certain drawbacks of pesticides include their detrimental effects on natural adversaries and environmental contamination.

Many undesirable side effects of older insecticides include residue issues, environmental risks, destruction of nontargeted insects such as parasites and predators as biocontrol agents and honeybees as pollinators, and the growth of insecticide resistance. There is a need to adopt ecofriendly management stratergies to control insect-pests of mustard. In sustainable crop management, entomopathogenic fungi are regarded as useful bio-control agents since they are naturally occurring adversaries of a variety of pests (Deka et al., 2017) [3] . Entomopathogenic fungi, which are often host-specific, do not pose a significant hazard to mammals or the environment. As an additional biological control strategy against aphids in an integrated pest management (IPM) programme, Lecanicillium lecanii L. is advised. Azadirachtin, the main pesticidal ingredient in neem extracts, has the ability to repel, poison, disrupt growth, and prevent aphid feeding (Khanal et al., 2020) [6] . In addition to biopesticides, botanicals are better for the environment.

Materials and Methods

The present experiment was conducted evaluation of biopesticides against major insect pests on mustard. The field experiment was performed at Department of Entomology Research Farm, VNMKV, Parbhani, Maharashtra, during rabi 2022-23, Sowing was done on 01-12-2022 at research field. Variety Kranti was used for sowing. The sowing was done by dibbling method at spacing of 45 x 20 cm. the Nine treatment and three replication with RBD design used for this experiment. Recording of observation: 10 plants from each treatment were selected and tagged to record observations. Number of Aphids: No. of aphids were recorded on each plant at top, bottom and from 10 randomly selected plants per replicate in each plot on 0 (Pre count), 3, 5, 7 and 10 days after each application. Mustard aphid sit in an overlapping manner and hence, it is difficult to record aphid on numerical basis. Hence, aphid index was given for determining aphid population as described by Patel et al., (1995).

The observation on aphid index were worked out by the following formula. The avg. aphid index was analysed by using following formula, Avg. Aphid Index = 0N+1N+2N+3N+4N+5N/Total No. of plants observed

Where, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are the aphid index. N= No. of plant representing aphid index. reported that Verticillium lecanii (Zimm.) Viegas @1.0 kg/ha + imidacloprid 0.0025 percent, Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill @ 1.25 kg/ha + imidacloprid 0.0025 percent, V. lecanii 1.0 kg/ha + acetamiprid 0.002 percent and B. bassiana 1.25 kg/ha + acetamiprid 0.002 percent were found reasonably viable against mustard aphid, respectively. Sajid and Zia (2017) [7] documented that M. anisopliae was observed to be the most successful biopesticide towards mustard aphid, accompanied by B. bassiana and B. thuringiensis. Sharma et al., (2017) [8] reported that dimethoate was observed as being the most successful in lowering the aphid population (95.33%), led by V. lecanii @ 108 CS/ml + NSKE @ 5% (88.52%), NSKE @ 5% + Clipping of infested twigs (87.77%), and B. bassiana @ 108 CS/ml + NSKE @ 5% (86.91%).

Result and Discussion

Effect of different biopesticides against mustard aphid Data presented in

T2

Gir Sawaj Lecanicillium lecanii1.15% WP 60 g 36.07 (

References

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