Screening of okra varieties against shoot and fruit borer (Farias vittella Fab.)

摘要

Eight commonly grown okra cultivars were sown for the evaluation of resistance against shoot and fruit borer. None of the varieties were found free from borer infestation. Varieties Arka Anamika and Selection 2-2 were found least susceptible, whereas,varieties Bhindi No. 8 and Shagun were highly susceptible to shoot and fruit borer. The crop is mainly infested by leafhopper, aphid, shoot and fruit borer and other minor pests, viz., leaf roller, red cotton bug, whitefly and spider mite (1, 2, 5, 7).Among these, the shoot and fruit borer is one of the most important pest of this crop. The larvae of shoot and fruit borer bore into the growing shoot, flower buds, flowers and fruits of okra, either killing the plant or causing heavy shedding of fruits.Okra fruits become distorted, and they are rendered unfit of human consumption as well as for the procurement of seeds. This results in drastic decrease (37-76%) in yield (4,6).