Effect of different colours of polyethylene mulch and sticky paper traps on disease incidence and yield of bellpepper under protected cultivation

Abstract

Aphid and aphid borne virus diseases cause extensive losses to many horticultural and agricultural crops. A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different colours of polyethylene mulch and coloured sticky paper traps in combination with insecticide imidacloprid (0.25ml/l) for the management of aphid and aphid borne virus disease (Bellpepper Mosaic Virus) and its effect on bellpepper yield. The studies revealed that use of reflective mulch in combination with insecticide and yellow trap resulted in minimum mean aphid population 2.33 per leaf/ plant, lower disease incidence (3%) of bellpepper mosaic virus with maximum fruit yield (5.5kg/plant) whereas highest aphid population 20.11 per leaf/ plant with maximum disease incidence (15%) and minimum fruit yield (1.5 kg/plant) were recorded in control. Results from the present study suggests that combination of insecticide imidacloprid (0.25ml/l) with reflective mulch can suppress aphid population thereby reducing the disease incidence of bellpepper mosaic virus as well as help in increasing fruit yield of bellpepper.