Uptake and translocation of granular systemic insecticides in potato plants under irrigated and rainfed conditions for managing Myzus persicae (Sulzer)

Abstract

Four granular systemic insecticides,.viz, phorate, aldicarb, disulfoton and carbofuran were applied @ 1.5 kg a.i./ha in the soil just before earthing up. Their uptake and translocation was studied under irrigated, and both irrigated and rainfed conditions, respectively, at Jalandhar (Punjab) and Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) consecutively for two years. The duration (days) required for translocating the quantities of these insecticides necessary for registering 50% or more mortality of Myzus persicae (Sulzer), a potential vector of potato viruses, was determined. This was achieved 4 days after granular application both at Jalandhar and Shimla under irrigated conditions. Further, an increasing trend in aphid mortality was observed up to 8-9 days under irrigated conditions. Thereafter, it remained either constant or declined. However, under rainfed conditions for normally grown potato crop at higher hills, even 50% mortality was not recorded, when aphids were released on potato leaves plucked from granule-treated plants at any of the samplings. This indicated that application of granular systemic insecticides in soil under such rainfed conditions at higher hills was practically ineffective against aphids due to insufficient uptake and translocation of these insecticides up to the foliage to record ≥ 50 per cent mortality of M. persicae. Aldicarb and disulfoton were superior as compared to phorate and carbofuran granules.