Abstract

The investigations entitled “Pest complex of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) with special reference to management of white grub in northern districts of Kashmir Valley” were undertaken at Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts for two cropping seasons 2011 and 2012. A total of 12 pests were recorded on the cropright from sowing upto harvest which were Flea beetle (Chaetocnema spp.), Semilooper (Thysanoplusia orichalcea), Aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae), Cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), White grub (Brahmina coriacea and B. poonensis), Wireworm (Melanotus horticornis), Earwig (Euborellia annulipes), Stunt nematode (Tylenchorlynctus kashmiriensis Mahajan), Lens nematode (Basirolaimus indicus Shamsi), Spiral nematode (Helicotylenchus dihystera Sher. and H . indicus Siddiqi), Root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus spp.) and Dagger nematode (Xiphinema basiri Siddiqi). In vivo observation revealed that Imidacloprid (70WS) as seed treatment registered 97.33, 96.66 and 96.66 per cent good tubers at Kunzer, Budnambal and Ajas, respectively followed by Bacillus thuringiensis, Metarrhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana. Whereas, Mustard cake as soil amendment recorded lowest good tubers of 76.00, 76.66 and 76.66 per cent at Kunzer, Budnambal and Ajas against 74.66, 75.33 and 74.66 per cent in control, respectively. The overall performances in descending order of different pesticides/cultural practices on the basis of per cent good tuber were Imidacloprid (96.88%) > Bacillus thuringiensis (93.55%) > Metarrhizium anisopliae (91.10%) > Beauveria bassiana (89.33%) > Cultural practices (81.33%) > Azadirachta indica (80.66%) > Phalada-111C1(77.10%) > Brassica species (76.44%) against control (74.88%).

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