Evaluation of new insecticides for the management of tobacco aphid, Myzus nicotianae in virginia tobacco

Abstract

Tobacco aphid, Myzus nicotianae, is an important pest of tobacco in India. A replicated field experiment was conducted for two seasons during 2012-13 and 2013-14 in flue cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cv. Siri to evaluate certain new insecticides for the management of aphid and its effect on associated natural enemies. Flonicamid 50 WG and pymetrozine WG @ 0.02% provided cent per cent control up to 16 days after treatment. Both the insecticides were found to be relatively safe to the tobacco aphid predators, Cheilomenes sexmaculata and Xanthogramma scutellarae. The new insecticides recorded higher cured leaf, bright leaf and better grade index than others. Studies on persistent residual toxicity on tobacco showed highest persistent toxicity index of 2092.2 for flonicamid and 1951.2 for pymetrozine.