Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges &
Opportunities during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
0.5%), T4 (T1 + EPN Heterorhabditis indica NBAIR H38), T5 (T1 + Pseudomonas
fluorescens (Pf DWD 1%)), T6 (Insecticidal check (Emamectin benzoate 0.4g/l)) including (T
7 )untreated control each replicated thrice. The commercial variety CSV 29 was grown in ~40
m 2 plot size. The crop was grown following all the agronomic practices and fertilizer
application as per the package of practices recommended for the zone without plant protection
measures to ensure natural infestation. The treatments T6 and T7 were imposed with a buffer
crop spread at 200 m from rest of the treatments. Observations were made on the whorl
infestation at 20DAE (Pre-Treatment) and 30DAE, 40DAE (post-Treatment) to identify the
reduction in egg patches, larval population and plant damage and percent reduction was
calculated over untreated check.
Results
The incidence of fall armyworm was observed to be moderate and the incidence was observed
from 10DAE of crop. It inflicted irregular cuts on the leaves and later stages in whorl. A
significant reduction in the number of eggs laid was observed after the application of first round
of treatments as compared to control in all treatments. The egg patches ranged from 0.66-2.66
egg patches/ 10 plants/ plot during the first year and 0-3.0 eggs patches/ 10 plants/ plot in the
second year of experimentation. By the second round of treatments egg patches were not
observed across the treatments.
Larvae per 10 Plants: It was found that no larva was found in T6 (insecticide) after the
application of second round of treatment. The next best treatments were T2 – T. pretiosum +
M. anisopliae (1.00 larvae/10 plants) which is on par with T1 - T. pretiosum + Bt (1.33) in the
first year of experimentation. All the treatments had registered significant reduction in larval
population with respect to untreated control and pre-treatment count.
Plant damage (%): Two sprays Insecticidal treatment was found to register significant
reduction in pest population and thus the plant damage also. Treatments with Bt and
Metarhizium anisopliae (Ma) also registered very less damage of 1.17 and 1.27% after two
rounds of application in the first year. In the second year also, 93.8 and 91.4% reduction in leaf
damage over the untreated control was observed in Ma and Bt, respectively after two rounds
of application. The release of egg parasitoid, Trichogramma pretiosum was found effective but
not sufficient in the management of fall armyworm in our previous experiments (Jaraleño-
Teniente et al., 2020). So, the release of T. pretiosum was kept constant in all the treatment,
since it is not sufficient to manage the pest, spray of NBAIR Bt 2%, Metarhizium anisopliae
NBAIR-Ma, EPN Heterorhabditis indica NBAIR H38 and Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf DWD
1%) were tested.
Managing genetic resources for enhanced stress tolerance
390 | Page