Impact of abamectin 1.9% EC and diafenthiuron 50% WP on natural enemies and plant health while managing mites and thrips in mulberry

Abstract

Experiment to evaluate the molecules with novel mode of action i.e, abamectin 1.9% EC and diafenthiuron 50% WP for safety period on mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. against thrips and mites population, this doesn’t produce any phyto-toxicity symptoms on mulberry plant at 1, 3, 8, 15 and 21 days after spraying indicating their suitability for safe use in mulberry for effective management of thrips and mites population and the natural enemy population was significantly higher upon spraying abamectin 1.9% EC @ 0.75 ml/l (4.75, 3.25, 3.75, 4.00 and 4.50 predators/plant during Jan-Feb, 2023 and 3.25, 3.25, 4.75, 5.25 and 4.25 predators/plant, during Mar-April, 2023 on 1, 3, 8, 15 and 21st DAS, respectively) that was on par with diafenthiuron 50% WP spray @ 1 g/l (4.50, 3.75, 4.50, 3.50 and 3.25 predators/plant during Jan-Feb, 2023 and 2.25, 3.50, 5.50, 4.50 and 4.25 predators/plant during Mar-April, 2023 on 1, 3, 8, 15 and 21st DAS, respectively) The estimated leaf yield (kg/ha/year) was significantly highest in abamectin 1.9% EC (@ 0.75 ml/l) followed by diafenthiuron 50% WP (@ 1 g/l) and cyenopyrafen 30% EC (@ 0.5 ml/l) (58244.11, 56757.62 and 56616.24 kg/ha/year, respectively) while the least yield was reported in azadiractin (52242.12 kg/ha/year).