Integrated Pest Management Schedule for Vegetables - National ...

OKRALeafhoppers (Amrasca biguttula biguttula)Hoppers lay pear shaped, elongated and yellowishwhite eggs in the veins on the under surface of leaves.Both the adults and nymphs suck the cell sap. Nymphsmove diagonally when disturbed. There are 10 to12 overlapping generations in a year. Plants loosetheir vitality and affected leaves turn yellow and curlupwards. When the infestation is high during summer,leaves turn brick red and show large necrotic spots,which is often confused with fungal infection.ManagementApply neem cake @ 250 Kg/ha to soil immediatelyafter germination and repeat after 30 days.In the initial stages of crop before flowering spraysystemic insecticide like Acephate 75 SP (1ml/l)or Imidacloprid (0.3 ml/l). Once the fruit harveststarts avoid systemic insecticides.Spray neem or pongamia soaps @ 0.5% orpulverized neem seed powder extract (NSPE) 4%at the lower surface of the leaves.Shoot and fruit borer (Earias vittella andE. insulana)Spotted bollworms are active throughout the yearreaching peaks during March-May and August-October. Female lays green coloured eggs withlongitudinal ridges on buds, flowers and fruits. Likebrinjal shoot and fruit borer, the infestation is seen onshoots before and after flowering, feed exclusively onfruits. Infested shoots wither and wilt.ManagementCollect and destroy the affected fruits and stems.Apply neem cake @ 250 kg/ha after germinationand repeat two more times at 30 days interval andspray neem soap 1% or NSPE 4%. Spray at 10 daysinterval.During rainy season, spray effective contactinsecticides like Indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 0.75 ml/l.A waiting period of minimum one week to bemaintained.Avoid staggered planting.Aphids (Aphis gossypii)This is a polyphagous pest, feeding in colonies andcompletely covers the shoot tips, buds and lowersurface of leaves. Both nymphs and adults suck thesap. They also excrete honeydew on which sootymould develops.ManagementClip and destroy infested shootsThoroughly spray neem or pongamia soap (1%)or pulverized neem seed powder extract (NSPE)4%. During pre-flowering period spray systemicinsecticides like Dimethoate 30 EC (2ml/l) orAcephate 75 SP or Acetamiprid.Petiole Maggot (Melanagromyzahibisci Spencer)This is a dipteran fly and attacks the crop throughoutthe growth period. Generally drying of leaves is noticed.If petioles of such leaves are opened, yellow maggotand pupae can be noticed. Pest attacks immediatelyafter germination and may cause mortality, or crackingof main stem.Fruit borer damage on okraManagementApply neem cake @ 250 kg/ha immediately aftergermination and repeat after 30 days followed bysprays of NSPE 4% or neem soap 1% at 10 daysinterval after flowering.INSECT MANAGEMENT/OKRA11