VARIETAL PERFORMANCE OF CABBAGE AGAINST MAJOR INSECT PESTS

Abstract

To evaluate the varietal preference of cabbage against major insect pests, an experiment was conducted at the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka, Bangladesh during September, 2007 to February, 2008. The experiment consisted of seven cabbage varieties namely BAR!badhakopi-lfProvati (V1), BAR!badhakopi2/Agrodot (V2), Atlas-70 (V3), Autumn queen (V4), Tropical queen (1/5), T-776 (V6) and Seisho YR (V7), which were laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The occurrence and incidence of adult flea beetle (Phyllotreta spp.), aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae), semi-looper (Trichoplusia ni), adult diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella) and tobacco caterpillar/ cabbage caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) were observed and recorded in the field of all cabbage varieties. Among seven cabbage varieties Atlas-70 (V3) was found to be the most suitable host for adult flea beetles, while Tropical queen (V5) for aphid, semi-looper and adult diamond back moth, where as T776 (V6) was the most suitable host for tobacco caterpillar. Conversely, the genotype BAR!badhakopi-!(V1) was found to be the least preferred host against most of the insect pests. Considering the yield resistance, BAR!badhakopi-2 (V2) produced the highest yield (16.41 ton hi1), and the genotype Seisho YR (V7) produced the lowest yield (7.04 ton had).