Biological control has been accepted as an eco-friendly, technically appropriate, economically viable and socially acceptable method of pest management. Various technologies and methods have been adapted in order to genetically improve the performances of natural enemies (predators, parasitoids and pathogens). Artificial selection of various strains under different conditions, hybridization (heterosis) of different strains and rDNA technologies has been adopted towards these directions. Various traits like tolerant to pesticidal stress, tolerant to extreme abiotic stresses, shortening developmental rate, enhancing progeny production, altering sex ratio and altering host or habitat preferences could enhance the effectiveness of natural enemies. The genetically improved natural enemies (predators, parasitoids and pathogens) might be the next level biological weapons against the pest populations in agricultural systems.
Cabbage (Brassicae oleracea var. capitata Linn.) is one of the most important and extensively cultivated vegetable crop because of its nutritional and economical values for producers and consumer point of view, respectively. The crop is prone for infestation by a number of insect pests consisting sucking and defoliating insects starting from germination to harvesting stage of the crop. In India, the diamond back moth, Plutella xylostella Linneaus and cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae Linneaus are the major Lepidopterous pests of cabbage. Adjusting planting dates can sometimes help to avoid certain insect infestations and reduce the need for chemical control. Planting dates influence the crop performance due to changed biotic and abiotic factors. The time of planting of cabbage, which is a season bound crop, has profound effect on the incidence of diamond back moth and cabbage butterfly. Several insecticides have been recommended through ages to avert pest damage, but some broad-spectrum synthetic organic insecticides and biopesticides are effective for the control of these two Lepidopterous pests.
The experiment was conducted in tomato crop grown under plastic house in farmers’ field condition in two VDCs of Bhaktapur District in two seasons in 2011/2012. The objective of the studies was to train the IPM facilitators for the production and multiplication of bio-control agents (Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride and Pseudomons fluorescens), to advocate the benefit of bio-control method for protection of crops and reduce the use of chemical pesticides in vegetables and to taste the efficacy of commercially available bio-pesticides. Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum, Pseudomons fluorescens and Bavistin were applied in seed and seedlings treatment, and foliar spray. The result revealed that seed and seedlings treated with T. species and Pseudomons fluorescens were healthier than those treated with chemical fungicides and produced higher yield.
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