Evaluation of Avoidable Yield Losses Inflicted by Cucumber moth (Diaphania indica) in Bitter gourd

Author: Sunidhi Pilania, Surender Singh Yadav, Krishna Rolania and Sunita Yadav

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Abstract

The cucumber moth, Diaphania indica, a recognized and significant pest in Africa and Asia, has demonstrated an increasingly detrimental impact on bitter gourd cultivation in recent years. Crop loss assessment is critical in developing comprehensive pest management programs, allowing for optimal resource allocation depending on the pest's relative impact. In this regard, a recent study was conducted to estimate the avoidable yield losses caused by D. indica infestation in the 'Pusa Do Mausami' bitter gourd variety. The investigation was conducted at Experimental Area, Department of Entomology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during Kharif 2019. The results demonstrated substantial differences in the yields of treated (Malathion 50% EC @ 1ml/l) and untreated plots. The average yield of bitter gourd in untreated plots was 1.41 times lower, measuring 54.93 q/ha, in comparison to the treated plots, which yielded 77.36 q/ha. As a result, the computed avoidable yield loss attributed to D. indica infestation in bitter gourd was determined to be 29.04 per cent.

Keywords

Diaphania indica, avoidable yield losses, bitter gourd, malathion

Conclusion

The present study revealed a significant yield difference between treated (Malathion application) and untreated plots. The untreated plots yielded 1.41 times less bitter gourd, with an average of 54.93 quintals per hectare, compared to 77.36 quintals per hectare in the treated plots, showing a significant difference of 22.43 quintals per hectare. The avoidable yield loss due to D. indica was calculated at 29.04 per cent, highlighting the economic impact of this pest on bitter gourd crops.

References

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How to cite this article

Sunidhi Pilania, Surender Singh Yadav, Krishna Rolania and Sunita Yadav (2023). Evaluation of avoidable yield losses inflicted by cucumber moth (Diaphania indica) in bitter gourd. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(10): 840-843.