Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at National Pulses Research Centre, Vamban, during the year 1994 to asses the critical stage for the insecticidal application to manage the pigeonpea pod fly. Melanagromyzae obtusa Malloch. Also a laboratory experiment was conducted to find out the preferred age for oviposition by pod fly adults which is essential for timing of insecticidal application. The results showed that the plots sprayed at the pod age of 5-10 days recorded the lowest grain damage of 12.4% and 16.8% respectively. Under laboratory condition it was found that more number of eggs viz, 16.1 and 16.7 were laid in 10 and 15 day old pods than other age groups. Hence it may be concluded that the pod age of 10-15 day is the critical stage for the insecticidal application, when pod fly incidence alone is noticed.

Keywords: Pigeonpea pod fly. Pod age, Insecticidal application