Effect of wetting agent on the efficacy of diafenthiuron in controlling whiteflies in sunflower

Abstract

The use of wetting agents enhances the insecticide efficiency and increases the persistence of insecticides. In this study, the effect of Wetting agent developed at the Main Agricultural Research Station, UAS, Raichur on the toxicity of Diafenthiuron 50 WP formulation was investigated under field conditions against the whitefly in Sunflower crop. Among the different treatment Wetting agent @ 1.50 ml/Litre + Diafenthiuron 50% WP @ 1 g/ Litre was found to be optimum in reducing the whitefly populations which was on par with the treatments of Diafenthiuron 50% WP @ 1 g/ Litre tank mixed with wetting agent 2.0 ml/Litre and the commercial standard check Dhanuwet @ 2.0 ml/Litre along with Diafenthiuron 50% WP @ 1 g/ Litre. Significantly higher seed yield was recorded in the treatments of Wetting agent @ 5.0 ml/Litre + Diafenthiuron 50% WP @ 1 g/ Litre and Wetting agent @ 2.0 ml/Litre + Diafenthiuron 50% WP @ 1 g/ Litre. The next best treatment was Wetting agent @ 1.50 ml/Litre + Diafenthiuron 50% WP @ 1 g/ Litre and Dhanuwit @ 2.0 ml/Litre along with Diafenthiuron 50% WP @ 1 g/ Litre. These results indicated that wetting agent increased efficiency of Diafenthiuron 50 WP commercial formulation and thereby yield of sunflower.