Synergistic effects of insecticide and lactic acid bacteria formulation on Spodoptera litura and beneficial spider in cauliflower under field condition

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) is an important vegetable crop that is susceptible to various insect pests, including the polyphagous lepidopteran pest, Spodoptera litura. This research paper presents an integrated initiative of managing S. litura in cauliflower using a combination of selective insecticides and the co-application of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the bio-efficacy of emamectin benzoate 05 % SG, tolfenpyrad 15 % EC and chlorantraniliprole 18.5 % SC, both with and without the addition of LAB @ 5 % during kharif and rabi seasons of 2024. The results demonstrated that the co-application of chlorantraniliprole 18.5 % SC at 10 g a.i. ha-1, with LAB 5 %, was the most effective strategy for managing S. litura, as it led to a significant reduction in leaf damage (14.64-16.85 %) (p<0.05) and an enhanced natural enemy population. Additionally, the application of LAB alone was found to be effective in attracting predatory spiders (8.66-8.27 spiders per ten plants) (p<0.05) to the cauliflower plants through the induction of volatile compounds by the epiphytic microbiome. The experimental data were subjected to ANOVA analysis using SPSS software with square root transformation for spider population data and arc sine transformation for S. litura data. The treatments were found to be statistically significant. These findings suggest that integrating selective insecticides and lactic acid bacteria can provide a cost- effective and sustainable approach to managing S. litura in cauliflower production, offering a promising alternative to the overreliance on chemical pesticides.