Bio Efficacy of Emamectin Benzoate 5 SG and 1.9 EC against Shoot and Fruit Borers of Okra

Okra also known as Bhendi (Abelomoschus esculentus L) is heavily infested by a variety of insect pests causing considerable damage and yield reduction. Among the pests, borers are most dreaded pests of national importance. Emamectin benzoate is an avermectin effective against several pests in number of crops. Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the bio efficacy of emamectin benzoate against borers of bhendi. Emamectin benzoate 5 SG and 1.9 EC @ 7,11 15 and 20 g a.i. ha-1 were tested in comparison with Proclaim 5 SG @ 11 g a.i. ha-1, chlorpyrifos 20 EC 200 g a..i ha-1 and untreated check. Observations on larval population and fruit damage were made prior to spraying and on 3, 7, 10 and 14 days after spraying from 10 randomly tagged plants per plot and the mean worked out. The fruit damage was assessed based on bore holes found on the fruit. The total number of fruits and infested fruits in ten randomly selected plants per plot were counted and the per cent fruit damage was worked out and the yield of bhendi fruits was also recorded. Results clearly showed that emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 20 g a.i.ha-1 followed by 1.9 EC @ 20 g a.i.ha-1 were found to be more effective in controlling bhendi borers. The order of efficacy was emamectin benzoate 5 SG at 20 g a.i.ha-1 ³ emamectin benzoate 1.9 EC at 20 g a.i.ha-1 >emamectin benzoate 5 SG at 15 g a.i.ha-1 ³ emamectin benzoate 1.9 EC at 15 g a.i.ha-1>emamectin benzoate 5 SG at 11 g a.i.ha-1 ³ Proclaim 5 SG at 11 g a.i.ha-1 ³ emamectin benzoate 1.9 EC at 11g a.i.ha-1 >emamectin benzoate 5 SG at 7 g a.i.ha-1 ³ emamectin benzoate 1.9 EC at 7 g a.i.ha-1 > chlorpyrifos 20 EC 200 g a..i ha-1