Performance assessment of grafted brinjal for shoot and fruit borer infestation (Solanum melongena L)

Abstract

Investigations were carried out in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) grafts to evaluate the effect of spacing and fertigation levels on shoot and fruit borer infestation. A strip plot design was adopted with four levels of spacing (1 m x 1 m, 2 m x 1 m, 1.5 m x 1.5 m and 0.6 m x 0.6 m), three levels of fertigation (75, 100 and 125% RDF) and replicated four times. After six months of planting the plants were pruned to obtain ratoon crop which was maintained for four 4 months. The lowest shoot borer (8.61 and 7.86 per cent) and fruit borer (9.66 and 8.20 per cent) infestations were recorded under widest spacing as compared to the closest; while the lowest nutrition level (75 per cent RDF) recorded the lowest shoot borer (7.74 and 7.01 per cent) and fruit borer (8.91 and 8.21 per cent) infestations in main and ratoon crops respectively. It was concluded that the shoot and fruit borer infestation reduced with increased spacing and with decreased nutrition level.