Assessment of losses due to bollworms in intra-hirsutum non-Bt and Bt hybrid seed production
Research Type
Non Project Trials
Experiment Background
The first cotton hybrid H4 (Sankar-4) was released for commercial cultivation in 1970 from Cotton Research Station, Surat by Dr. C. T. Patel. After this, the area under hybrid cultivation started increasing due to its high yielding potential and wider adaptability. In 2002, hybrid era complimented with Bt technology (single gene in 2002 and dual genes in 2006) and the story of hybrid cotton (mostly intra-hirsutum hybrids) revolution in India is well known. The quality seed production is important tool to play a pivotal role in achieving higher productivity; the use of quality seeds alone could increase productivity by 15–20 % which highlights the important role of seed in agriculture. In hybrid seed production program, the fruiting body damage by bollworms especially green bolls, open bolls and locules affect resultant seed cotton yield. The internal seed feeder, the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), is a highly destructive insect pest in all cotton producing regions of the world. Its infestation coincides with the onset of squaring, flowering and boll development resulting in 30% yield loss. The larvae of pink bollworm feed on developing flower buds and seeds of green bolls of cotton plant, causing rosette flowers, premature opening of infested bolls, and reduction in fibre length and poor quality of lint due to staining as well as infestation also carried to the seeds rendering losses in the seed production program. Pink bollworm has now re-emerged as a major pest in Indian cotton production, even on Bt cotton. Various intra-hirsutum hybrids react differentially against bollworms and resultant seed cotton yield. Specifically, pink bollworm damage not only reduces the total yield but also affects the quality of lint and quantity and quality of seeds too. There is need to assess seed production losses in various public sector intra hirsutum Bt and non Bt released hybrids. Further, the loss assessment data will provide clue for the future management aspects. Hence, the experiment is proposed.
Experiment Group
Agricultural Entomology
Unit Type
(01)RESEARCH UNIT
Unit
(46)MAIN COTTON RESEARCH STATION (SURAT)
Department
(269)Main Cotton Research Station Surat
BudgetHead
(313/12009/00)313/01/REG/00083
Objective
To assess the seed production losses due to bollworms in public sector released intra-hirsutum hybrids