EFFECTIVENESS OF BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS SUBSP. KURSTAKI (BTK) AND DRIED LANTANA CAMARA L. FOLIAGE AGAINST POTATO TUBER MOTH (PHTHORIMAEA OPERCULELLA) UNDER LOCAL STORAGE CONDITION OF MEGHALAYA

Abstract

Potato Tuber Moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) is an important and widely distributed pest in field and stores in mid and high hills of Hindu Kush Himalayas of India, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan. It causes huge economic losses to both table and seed potato. Seed potato in farmers’ stores were subjected to two different doses of
talcum-based Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk), and chopped and dried Lantana camara shoots in three different locations in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, India. All the treatments were significantly effective in reducing the incidence of PTM over control. Tubers treated with Btk doses 30g and 60g/kg of talcum had 14% and 64% fewer mines at Nongwah, 50% and 46% at Wahlyngkien and 67% and 63% at Mawgap over control. Tubers treated with L. camara showed 86%, 37% and 87% lesser mines over control at all the three locations which were statistically significant. The mines were very superficial in tubers treated with Btk as compared to those covered with Lantana and control. The use of Btk and Lantana camara as organic approach for managing PTM have been discussed.