Population Trend, Crop Loss Assessment & Acaricidal Management of Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) Infesting Mungbean Under Gangetic Basin Of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek), also known as green gram, is one of the important pulse crops grown in West Bengal, India. Mungbean is affected by various insect and non-insect pests, among which the yellow mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) plays an important role amounting huge crop loss. The peak population of the mite (23.2 mites/sq.cm leaf area) encountered during the initial budding stage of the crop and declined thereafter at the end of flowering stage. A tune of 50–80 % crop loss was estimated due to its infestation. Among seven acaricides tested, Dicofol, Diafenthiouron and Spiromesifen showed higher efficacy against the mite than the other acaricides used. The yellow mite is a regular and major pest of mungbean which appeared in a severe form in the farmer field especially during pre-kharif season which can be manage successfully by application of two successive round of acaricides like diafenthiouron or dicofol at 10 days interval during early reproductive stage of the crop that ensure the flowering and fruit setting of the crop giving satisfactory yield. The present study provides an important finding regarding the peak season of infestation by yellow mite and the effective measures to be taken against it which will help the mung bean growers to combat the loss from this havoc.