Reducing Pesticide Costs Using Tungro Resistant Varieties

Abstract

Insecticide-sprayed and unsprayed IR64, rice variety susceptible to tungro virus had very poor growth and very low yield compared to the intermediate and resistant varieties. As a result, higher net profit was observed on PSB Rc18 (resistant variety) during the dry season, while a negative profit per cropping was obtained on the sprayed and unsprayed susceptible variety. The study implied that cypermethrin is not effective in controlling rice tungro disease, thus the use of resistant varieties is more effective and profitable.