Bio-efficacy report of Specol-OSO horticultural mineral oil against major insect pests of apple in Kashmir (J&K)

Abstract

Apple (Malus domestica) holds a significant position in Jammu and Kashmir's export sector, playing a vital role in the region's economic development. However, apple orchards face substantial losses due to various factors that include insect pests and different diseases. Among these challenges, the San Jose Scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus) and the European red mite (Panonychus ulmi) pose significant threats to apple production. We conducted a study in 2017 and 2018 at two locations in J&K, namely Manigam, Khalmulla (District Ganderbal) and Chogul (District Kupwara) and evaluated the effectiveness of horticulture mineral oil (Specol-OSO HMO) and MAK All Season at different concentrations. The research found that all treatments, including Specol-OSO HMO and MAK All Season, were significantly superior in terms of controlling San Jose Scale and European red mite populations compared to the untreated control group. At the recommended dose of 750 ml/100 liters of water, both Specol-OSO HMO and MAK All Season achieved substantial cumulative mortality rates for San Jose Scale (77.95% and 70.77%) and European red mite (74.45% and 68.70%), respectively. Additionally, Specol-OSO HMO at 1000 ml/100 liters of water demonstrated the highest cumulative mortality rates for Amblyseius spp. (36.71%) and Coccinellids (38.61%). Notably, the application of Specol-OSO HMO at 1500 ml/100 liters of water did not result in any phytotoxicity symptoms such as leaf injury, yellowing, wilting, necrosis, hyponasty, or epinasty. Moreover, the highest yield (5.43 boxes/tree) was achieved using MAK All Season at a concentration of 750 ml/100 liters of water. Thus, integrating Specol-OSO HMO with the standard check MAK All Season presents a promising approach to enhance pest control strategies in apple farming. This collaborative approach has the potential to significantly contribute to the agricultural prosperity of the Kashmir region.