Bio-pesticidal alternative to manage sunflower capitulum borer

Introduction

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is native to North America, where it was domesticated by Indigenous peoples as early as 3000 BC and perhaps first domesticated in Mexico around 2600 BC, with early archaeological finds in Tennessee by 2300 BC. Spanish explorers brought it to Europe in the early 1500s, from where it spread to Russia, where in the 18th and 19th centuries, it became the focus for oilseed breeding-especially in the Voronezh region, where a scalable oil-extraction technology was invented. Russia and Ukraine later played pivotal roles in worldwide commercialization of sunflower as an oil crop.Sunflower reached India in the 1960s and was adopted as a dependable oilseed suited to rainfed agriculture. However, in India this oilseed crop is a recent introduction and is reported to be first grown in the southern part of the country in the year 1969 and later to boost the productivity hybrids were introduced in 1980. It thrived in the agro-climatic zones of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. By 2009-10, sunflower covered approximately 1.85 million hectares in India, with production reaching 1.35 million tonnes and average productivity around 730 kg/ha. In recent seasons, sunflower cultivation occupies roughly 1.48 million hectares nationwide, with an average yield of about 900 kg/ha (0.6 tonne/acre), around 80% of which is rainfed (Anonymous 2025a) [1] . Karnataka leads production with around 304,000 tonnes from 794,000 ha, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Drought tolerance, photo-insensitivity, short duration, wider adaptation to diverse soil, climate and agro-ecological situation, higher productivity are some of the reasons that make sunflower a popular crop among the farmers. Under the changing climatic scenario, where crop diversification is increasingly considered as an important adaptation strategy, sunflower has tremendous potential in the diversification of different traditional cropping pattern and cropping systems of the country. Sunflower has been proved to be as a highly promising crop under different agro-climatic regions of India, because of thermo-insensitive and high production potential (Tomar et al., 1997) [12] . Maharashtra has also developed several high-performing cultivars tailored to its dryland and Vidarbha regions. Notable examples include SS-56 and Phule Bhaskar (SS-0808), which yield 800-1,000 kg/ha and 1,800 kg/ha respectively under rainfed conditions. icar-iior.org.in. Despite this progress, sunflower productivity in India-and particularly Maharashtra-lags behind the world average (1,320 kg/ha), constrained by abiotic stresses (drought, erratic rainfall, nutrient deficiencies) and a complex of insect pests and diseases managed through integrated approaches. Sunflower is being cultivated in India over an area of 0.47 mha with a production of 0.33 mt and the productivity is 697 kg/ ha. Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Tamil Nadu are the major sunflower growing states in our country. Karnataka with the production of 0.17 mt and productivity of 503 kg/ha, in an area of 0.33 mha stands as the leading state (Anonymous, 2016) [1] . The production of this crop is quite low despite the release of several high yielding varieties and hybrids. Various biotic and abiotic stresses are responsible for lower productivity in this crop. Crop attacked by large number of insect pests (biotic stress) at different stages of crop growth is an alarming feature for lesser productivity. Sunflower acts as a host for wide array of insect pests, as many as 251 insect species use this crop as food across the world. The major insect pests include the tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura), which completes 6-8 generations annually, skeletonizing foliage and feeding on capitula. The head borer (Helicoverpa armigera), like wise 6-8 generations/year, tunnels into developing seed heads. Sapsucking pests-leafhoppers (Amrasca biguttula), thrips, whiteflies-cause chlorosis and sticky honeydew. Additional pests include semiloopers (Thysanoplusia spp.), hairy caterpillar (Spilosoma obliqua), cutworms (Agrotis spp.), termites, and sunflower beetles. (Rajamohan, 1976) [9] . Adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) in India integrates cultural tactics (crop rotation, intercropping, border and trap crops, optimal planting dates), mechanical control (egg mass removal, trap and light traps), biological measures, seed treatments and judicious, threshold-based chemical use can only solve the problem. Sunflower's journey from North American domestication to a vital Indian oilseed crop reflects its adaptability and global significance. While Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh remain core production centers, yield remains subdued by rainfed cultivation and pest-disease pressures. Yet, targeted cultivar development, IPM adoption, and improved agronomic techniques have enabled significant gains, particularly in Maharashtra, pointing to a pathway for closing the productivity gap.In this line current study was aimed to find biocotrol alternative for the management of Helicoverpa armigera.

Material and Methods

An experiment to evaluate the biopesticides against head borer in Sunflower was carried out in randomized block design with eight treatments and three replication during Kharif 2009, Kharif 2010 & Kharif 2011. the observations on pest incidence and predators were recorded one day before imposing treatment and one three and seven days after imposing the treatments from five randomly selected plants of each plot. The observations on honey bee visits were recorded during the peak period of their activity one day before imposing treatment and one three and seven days after imposing the treatments. Data so collected was subjected to statistically analysed and results were interpreted.

Results

Management of sunflower capitulum borer

Efficacy of different insecticides against. Sunflower capitulum borer after first and spray are mentioned in the table 2.Pre-treatment larval count varied from 2.00 to 4.17 larva/plant one day before spraying. Data in the table shows that one day after spraying profenophos 50 EC was found to be highly effective with the minimum larval count of 0.30 larva/plant and followed by HaNPV @ 2 x 108 POBs/ml (Rs. 21520) & NSKE 5%it was noticed to be on par with each other. They were followed B. bassiana @ 5g/litre, Bacillus thuringiensis @ 2.5 gm/litr, PSE 5% and Commercial neem formulation 0.5%. Next best treatments were B. bassiana @ 5g/litre, Bacillus thuringiensis @ 2.5 gm/litr and PSE 5% were found to be on par with one another (1.55 and 1.57 larva/plant). Commercial neem formulation 0.5% with larval count of 1.71 larva/plant was noticed to be less effective. Data recorded on three days after spraying depicts that all treatments effectively reduced larval population over untreated control. Among these treatments profenophos 50 EC was highly effective in reducing the larval population to 0.45 larva/plant. HaNPV @ 2 x 108 POBs/ml 0.75 larva/plant & NSKE 5% 1.14 larva/plant which was on par with each other. These two treatments were followed by Bacillus thuringiensis @ 2. 1 to 5 revealed that the highest yield was recorded by the treatment of Profenophos50 EC @ 0.05%(i.e. 1467 kg/ha) followed by the treatment of HaNPV @ 2 x 10 8 POBs/ml (1416 kg/ha) and both of these treatments were at par with each other. Although The highest net return was recorded (Table 4) for the treatment of Profenophos50 EC @ 0.05%(Rs. 22532),and was followed by treatment of HaNPV @ 2 x 10 8 POBs/ml (Rs. 21520) & NSKE 5% (Rs. 19197),highest IBCR was recorded with the treatment of HaNPV @ 2 x 10 8 POBs/ml (1:15.07),and was followed by treatment of NSKE 5%(1:14.32) and Profenophos50 EC @ 0.05% (1:11.93) at same time Profenophos @ 0.05%was found most toxic to natural enemies and having reduced visits of honey bees in comparison with the treatments of bio-pesticides. The present findings are more or less also parallel to Jagadish et al., (2010) [6] reported the superior efficacy of neem based formulations against sunflower head borer and mentioned that while, neem oil formulation (300 ppm Azdirachtin) reduced the borer population by 34.1 percent, NSKE (5%) minimised the larval load by 57.4 percent. According to Mane et al., (2013) [10] Azadiractin 1500 ppm @ 2ml/lit lowers the larval population of H armigera in sunflower crop at Akola, Maharastra. Further Sajjad Ali et al., (2014) [11] reported that after 4 th spray, mean reduction of H. armigera damage in sunflower, was highest in Neem seed kernal extracts (42.06%) followed Neem oil (31.40%). Kumar et al., (2015) [8] also recommended that application of 5% neem seed kernel extract at 10 days interval protects the sunflower crop from the head borer damage. Gautam et al., (2018) [5] found that Neem seed oil @ 5ml/l was considerably superior in regulating the population of H. armigera at Kumarganj, Faizabad. Mane et al., (2013) [10] studied the efficacy of different bio-pesticides against H. armigera and reported that Bt @ 2 g per liter of water was effective in reducing the larval population on sunflower. While evaluating the efficacy of biorationals and botanical formulations against Helicoverpa armigeraHub. in sunflower, Basavaraj et al., (2014) [4] observed that foliar application of Bt @ 5g per litre of water caused 67.5% reduction of larval population over the untreated control at 7 days after the second spray. Kumar and Kaur (2017) [7] have reported that Beauveria bassiana@ 2 g per liter of water and Bt @ 2.5 g per liter of water are the potential candidates that can be used for early season suppression of Helicoverpa armigera on sunflower and are safe to natural enemies as well.

These biopesticide and entomopathogens may be useful components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy in sunflower.

Conclusion

The data presented in the Table 1 to 5 revealed that the highest yield was recorded by the treatment of Profenophos50 EC @ 0.05%(i.e. 1467 kg/ha) followed by the treatment of HaNPV @ 2 x 10 8 POBs/ml (1416 kg/ha) and both of these treatments were at par with each other. Although The highest net return was recorded (Table 7) for the treatment of Profenophos50 EC @ 0.05% (Rs. 22532), and was followed by treatment of HaNPV @ 2 x 10 8 POBs/ml (Rs. 21520) & NSKE 5% (Rs. 19197), highest IBCR was recorded with the treatment of HaNPV @ 2 x 10 8 POBs/ml (1:15.07), and was followed by treatment of NSKE 5%(1:14.32) and Profenophos50 EC @ 0.05% (1:11.93) at same time Profenophos @ 0.05%was found most toxic to natural enemies and having reduced visits of honey bees in comparison with the treatments of biopesticides. Therefore Spraying of HaNPV @ 2 x 108 POBs/ml and NSKE 5% was found economic & safe to natural enemies and honey bees and effective for the management of Sunflower capitulum borer, hence it can be recommended as biocontrol alternative for management of capitulum borer.

References

1. Anonymous. Agricultural statistics at a glance. Govt. of India; 2016. p. 130-132.
2. Anonymous. krishikosh.egranth.ac.in. 2025b [cited 2025 Jul 29]. Available from: krishikosh.egranth.ac.in
3. Basavaraj K, Naik MI, Jagadish KS, Geetha S, Shadakshari YG. Efficacy of biorationals and botanical formulations against Helicoverpa armigera Hub. in sunflower. J Biopesticides. 2014;7:94.
4. Gautam MP, Chandra U, Singh SN, Yadav SK, Girl SK. Studies on efficacy of botanicals against Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci. 2018;7(Special):612-618.
5. Jagadish KS, Shadakshari YG, Puttarangaswamy KT, Karuna K, Geetha KN, Nagarathna TK. Efficacy of some biopesticides against defoliators and capitulum borer, Helicoverpa armigera Hub. in sunflower, Helianthus annuus L. J Biopesticides. 2010;3(1):379381.
6. Kumar S, Kaur J. Efficacy of Beauveria bassiana and Bacillus thuringiensis as eco-safe alternatives to chemical insecticides against sunflower capitulum borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner). J Entomol Zool Stud. 2017;5(2):185-188.
7. Kumar R, Keval R, Srivastava CP, Yadav A. Insect Pests of Sunflower and Its Integrated Management. Popular Kheti. 2015;3(1):90-93.
8. Rajamohan N. Pest complex of sunflower: a bibliography. Pans. 1976;22(4):546-563.
9. Mane PN, Rathod PK, Balode KL, Deshmukh SN. Efficacy of microbial and botanical against Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) in sunflower. Curr Biotica. 2013;7(3):241-245.
10. Sajjad Ali K, Ghani Lanjar A, Solang AW. Efficacy of Neem Kernal Powder and Neem Oil against Helicoverpa armigera on Sunflower Crop. J Nat Sci Res. 2014;4(7):45-49.
11. Tomar HSP, Dadhwal KS, Singh HP. Effect of irrigation, nitrogen and phosphorus on yield attributes of spring sunflower. Indian J Soil Conserv. 1997;25(2):136-140.