Insect pests and Predators associated with different Mustard varieties at Tandojam

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in the experimental area of Entomology Section, Agriculture Research Institute Tandojam during Rabi season of 2008-2009.Seeds of six Brassica varieties i.e. E-R-22, Gaj, P-78, P-53-59,tShiralla and Agati Sarsoon, were sown in a Randomize Complete Block Design during the 4 h week of January. A net plot area of 14 x 46ft was kept for each variety. During observation period four species of sucking insect pests whitefly, aphid, thrip, and painted bug and four species of predators i.e. beetles, chrysoperla carnea, wasp, and spider were observed associated with all six varieties of Brassica. Whitefly appeared in the initial stage of crop on all varieties while the aphid and thrips reached their peak in the end of February. The population of aphid, thrip and painted bug remained in low number. The population of predators was low and remained similar, during the months of December and January. Overall data suggested that the population of insect pests and predators remained constant on all varieties. The less population of the predators was due to less population of aphids.