Bio-rational insecticides toxicity against Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) damaging Cantaloupes, Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted for two seasons (2015-16 and 2016-17) to evaluate bio-rational insecticides against leaf miner (Liriomyza trifolii) damaging cantaloupes and it was found that among various insecticides viz. spinosad 45SC@0.32ml/l, abamectin 1.9EC @0.3ml/l, fipronil 5SC@2ml/l, fipronil 80WG@0.15g/l, cyantraniliprole 10OD@ 1.8ml/l, triazophos 40EC@2ml/l, diafenthiuron 50WP@1g/l, novaluron 10EC@1ml/l, neem soap@7.5g/l, pongamia soap@7.5g/l, azadirachtin 1%EC @5ml/l, abamectin (1.03-2.33 mined leaves/10ft row) and spinosad (1.18-3.33 mined leaves/10ft row) in both the seasons prove to be highly effective in minimising the damage. All the treatments had significant effect on the yield as compared to control but among treatments they were non-significant in first season which was not the case in second season where highest yield was noted in spinosad (11.43t/acre) followed by azadirachtin(9.79t/acre) and abamectin (9.67t/acre). Though there was variation in yield within these treatments but they were statistically on par with each other. Similarly the treatments were on par with each other with respect to number of fruits per vine, fruit weight, TSS and number of seeds set per fruit. The overall findings indicate that the molecules viz., abamectin and spinosad can be recommended to control leaf miner in cantaloupes to achieve an appreciable yield.