Field efficacy evaluation and standardization of dose of a novel molecule, etoxazole 10% SC (w/w) against the red spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus infesting brinjal (Solanum melongena)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Central Research Station farm of Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India during summer seasons of 2010 and 2011 to evaluate the field efficacy and find out the correct dose of a novel molecule etoxazole 10% SC (w/w) for management of the red spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisd.) infesting brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). The chemical etoxazole was evaluated @ 10, 25, 40 and 55 g a.i./ha along with fenpropathrin, hexythiazox and propargite @ 100, 25 and 570 g a.i./ha, respectively. The results revealed that at 21 days after spraying (DAS), the chemical treatments, etoxazole 10% SC (w/w) @ 40 and 55 g a.i./ha and hexythiazox 5.45 EC emerged significantly the best with a record of 0.91-1.14 mites/ 4cm2 leaf area and registering 78.03-82.47% reduction over untreated control (5.19 mites/4cm2 leaf area). Other chemical treatments did not offer satisfactory control of the mites at 21 DAS. Significantly highest marketable fruit yield was recorded in the higher doses of etoxazole 10% SC (w/w) treatments, i.e. @ 40 and 55 g a.i./ha (21.01-21.17 tonnes/ha) with 24.84-25.79 per cent increase in fruit yield over untreated control (16.83 tonnes/ha) closely followed by hexythiazox (20.92 tonnes/ha).