Effect of selected plant volatiles on pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossyppiella (Saunders) in non-Bt and BT cotton

Abstract

During the study period, eight synthetic plant volatiles viz., cis-3-hexene-1-ol, methyl salicylate, methyl jasmonate, D-limonene, caryophyllene, phenylacetaldehyde, geraniol and farnesol were selected and impregnated in dispenser for slow release of volatile compounds in non-Bt and Bt DCH-32 cotton hybrids under field condition to assess the attractant or repellent nature of the volatile compounds to pink bollworm at Agricultural Research Station, Dharwad farm, Kharif 2019-2020. It resulted non-significant difference in incidence of pink bollworm in both non-Bt and Bt cotton. However, the significant difference was noticed among the treatments in both the hybrids. Among the tested plant volatiles, phenylacetaldehyde and farnesol recorded least larval count and green boll damage in both non-Bt and Bt DCH-32 than the untreated control and registered as repellents. Whereas, D-limonene, cis-3-hexene-1-ol and methyl salicylate recorded significant peak infestation of larval count as well as green boll damage.