ADOPT TECHNOLOGY TO MANAGE PINK BOLLWORM IN COTTON

摘要

The possibility of more attack of pink bollworm on cotton crop in future cannot be ignored. Farmers should contact experts, if any incidence of pink bollworm on Bt cotton is observed.Cotton is the second most important kharif crop after paddy and mainly grown in South-Western districts of the state, namely Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib, accounting for more than 90 per cent of the cotton area. Two groups of insect pests, namely bollworm complex (American, spotted and pink bollworms) and sucking pests (jassid, whitefly, thrips and mealybug) were serious on non Bt cotton. Among the bollworm complex, pink bollworm (PBW) remained serious pest during 1975 in cotton growing belt of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan when long duration varietieslike J 34, J 205 and LSS were under cultivation. However, its incidence decreased to a low level due to introduction of resistant/tolerant early maturing varieties like F 414 and adoption of cultural practices for its management. After introduction of Bt cotton in 2005, there was a drastic reduction in PBW incidence. During the last 3-4 years, its incidence was again recorded on Bt cotton hybrids in Central and Southern India. In 2017, heavy infestation of this pest was recorded in states like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana. In 2018, the incidence of this pest was observed in Northern part of India i.e. Jind area of Haryana, where cotton growing conditions are mostly similar to those of Punjab. Regular surveillance carried out by scientists of Punjab Agricultural University and officers from Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Punjab recorded very low incidence of pink bollworm, particularly, on non Bt cotton in Punjab. In 2019, PBW incidence was also recorded in few fields of BG II cotton hybrids grown near the cotton ginneries in Bathinda district of Punjab at the fag end of the season. The possibility of more attack of this pest on cotton crop in future cannot be ignored. Carryover of this pest during winters is the most important weak link, which should be targeted for its management. Thus, various off season and seasonal management strategies developed by PAU are discussed in this article along with its biology and damage symptoms.