INFESTATION STATUS AND MANAGEMENT OF CUCURBIT FRUIT FLY (BACTROCERA CUCURBITAE) IN BOTTLE GOURD AND SPONGE GOURD IN SUMMER SEASON

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University farm to find out the effect of different treatment for management of cucurbit fruit fly, (Bactrocera cucurbitae) during March to October 2015. The treatments of the experiment were T1= Cue-lure traps + Neem oil @ 4ml/Liter of water sprayed at 10 days interval, T2 = Cue-lure traps + Sevin 85wp @ 2g/Liter + Ripcords 10EC @ 1ml as a alternative sprays,T3 = Cue-lure traps + Neem oil @ 4ml/Liter + Ripcords 10EC @ 1ml/Liter as a alternative sprays at 10 days interval ,T4=Cue-lure traps+ hand picking at 10 days interval,T5 = Neem oil @ 4ml/Liter of water sprayed at 10 days interval,T6 = Untreated control. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Among the treatments T3 (Cue-lure traps + Neem oil @ 4ml/Litre + Ripcords 10EC @ 1ml/Liter as a alternative sprays) showed the best performance in controlling cucurbit fruit fly on bottle gourd and sponge gourd. Consequently highest total weight of healthy fruits/plot (37.57 kg) and (13.62 kg), highest per cent increase of yield by weight (193.53 %) and (158.36 %), highest total yield per hector (41.74 t ha-1) and (15.14 t ha-1) were achieved from the T3 (Cue-lure traps + Neem oil @ 4ml/Liter + Ripcords 10EC @ 1ml/Liter as a alternative sprays at 10 days interval) treatment on bottle gourd and sponge gourd. Respectively better result also found from T2 (Cue-lure traps + Sevin 85wp @ 2g/Liter + Ripcords 10EC @ 1ml as a alternative sprays). The lowest weight of healthy fruit (12.8 kg/plot) and (5.27 kg/plot),lowest total yield per hector (14.22 t ha-1) and (5.86 t ha-1) were obtained from control plot of bottle gourd and sponge gourd . The experiment revealed that Cue-lure traps combined with Neem oil @ 4ml/Liter and Ripcords 10EC @ 1ml/Liter as a alternative sprays could be effectively utilized for fruit fly management on bottle gourd and sponge gourd in summer season.