Response of onion cultivars to onion thrips, Thrips tabaci (Lind.) in central dry zone of Karnataka, India

Abstract

Twenty onion cultivars were screened against thrips incidence. The results of the study revealed that all onion cultivars were infested by thrips. No single cultivar was resistant against thrips. However, fourteen cultivars were categorized as moderately resistant based on the thrips population. Among these, cultivar Arka Pragati the thrips population was minimum (29.34 thrips/pl.) which was on par with cultivars, Arka Kalyan (32.12 thrips/pl.) and Arka Niketan (34.01 thrips/pl.). Bhima Red, Agri found dark red, N-53 and Prema onion were found susceptible. In Satara Garva and Bellary red cultivars, thrips population was maximum (79.84 and 75.96thrips/pl., respectively) and they were categorized as highly susceptible. The performance of fourteen onion cultivars is categorized as moderately resistant against thrips incidence which indicate the existence of promising source of resistance. Among the natural enemies, Lady bird beetles (coccinellid beetles) and Chrysoperla sp. were more abundant.