Effect of time of breaking water stress, planting density, organic manuring and certain new insecticides on incidence of Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

Abstract

Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) is one of the major insect pest of citrus cultivars grown across India. A series of experiments on the management of ACP, viz. effect of time of breaking water stress (T₁- 1^st January, T₂- 10^th January, T₃-20^th January and T₄- 30^th January), planting density (spacing 6 m × 6 m and 3 m × 3 m), organic manuring (Farmyard manure @ 20 kg/tree, vermicompost @ 10 kg/tree, poultry manure @ 10 kg/tree, green manuring with cowpea and sunnhemp) and evaluation of new insecticides [thiomethoxam @ 0.008%, acetamiprid @ 0.007%, imidacloprid @ 0.009% (soil and foliar application), abamectin @ 0.0006% and spinosad @ 0.015% (foliar application)] in Nagpur mandarin, Citrus reticulata Blanco were conducted at National Research Centre for Citrus, Nagpur during 2009-12. Results revealed that time of breaking water stress on 1st January, 6 m × 6 m spacing, application of vermicompost @ 10 kg/tree and soil application of thiamethoxam @ 0.008% recorded significantly reduced levels of ACP. The information generated helps in the development of pest management modules for the effective management of ACP in Nagpur mandarin orchards of central India.