Field efficacy of insecticides against legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata in blackgram

Abstract

The legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Geyer) is serious pest of blackgram in India and management of this pest becomes difficult due to its concealed nature of feeding inside the flowers and pods. Field experiments were carried out in Tamil Nadu during Rabi 2011-2012 with different chemical insecticides for the management of M. vitrata in blackgram var. VBN 3 under irrigated conditions. Population of web larva (number/plant), pod damage (%) and seed damage (%) were recorded after single application of insecticides. Among the chemicals, indoxacarb was found effective followed by lambda cyhalothrin and novaluron. The larval population was lowest (1.07-1.25/plant) in the indoxacarb treated plots in which lowest pod damage (3.40-4.53%) and seed damage (2.40-3.10%) was recorded. Maximum yield of blackgram was also recorded in the indoxacarb treated plots.