Whitefly Control in Cotton
कपास में सफेद मक्खी नियंत्रण
Identification / पहचान
Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) is among the most destructive pests of cotton in India. Both nymphs and adults suck phloem sap, reducing plant vigour. More critically, B. tabaci is the primary vector of Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV), which can cause total crop failure.
सफेद मक्खी (Bemisia tabaci) भारत में कपास की सबसे हानिकारक कीटों में से एक है। यह कपास पत्ती कुंचन वायरस (CLCuV) फैलाती है, जो पूर्ण फसल नाश कर सकता है।
Key Symptoms / मुख्य लक्षण
- Yellowing and upward curling of leaves (CLCuV symptom)
- Sticky honeydew on leaves → black sooty mould
- Tiny white flies visible on leaf undersides when disturbed
- Stunted plant growth, reduced boll set
- पत्तियों का पीला पड़ना और ऊपर की ओर मुड़ना (CLCuV लक्षण)
- पत्तियों पर चिपचिपा मधुस्राव → काली कालिख फफूंदी
- पत्ती के नीचे छोटी-छोटी सफेद मक्खियां दिखती हैं
- पौधों का बौनापन, बॉल का कम बनना
Economic Threshold / आर्थिक दहलीज
- Action threshold: 6+ nymphs per leaf (on 3rd from top) OR 1–2 adults per leaf
- CLCuV alert: Any upward leaf curl symptom = immediate action required
Integrated Pest Management / एकीकृत कीट प्रबंधन
Cultural Control / सांस्कृतिक नियंत्रण
- Avoid continuous cotton cultivation in the same field
- Destroy crop residues immediately after harvest
- Use yellow sticky traps @ 8–10 per acre for monitoring and mass trapping
- Maintain 14-day spray-free period near boll opening (preserve natural enemies)
Biological Control / जैविक नियंत्रण
- Neem-based products (Azadirachtin 0.03% EC) @ 2.5 litre/acre — repels and disrupts moulting
- Beauveria bassiana 1% WP @ 1 kg/acre — targets nymphs in humid conditions
- Encarsia formosa parasitoids — conserve by avoiding broad-spectrum sprays early season
Chemical Control / रासायनिक नियंत्रण
Rotate between modes of action to delay resistance.
| Product | MoA Group | Dose/acre | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diafenthiuron 50% WP | Group 12A | 200 g | Excellent nymph control |
| Pymetrozine 50% WG | Group 9B | 80 g | Selective; safe for predators |
| Spiromesifen 22.9% SC | Group 23 | 200 ml | Targets eggs + nymphs |
| Flonicamid 50% WG | Group 29 | 60 g | Systemic; good vine spray |
| Imidacloprid 17.8% SL | Group 4A | 60 ml | Avoid repeated use (resistance) |
Important: Do NOT use neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam) more than twice per season — heavy resistance is widespread in B. tabaci populations across India.
महत्वपूर्ण: Neonicotinoids का प्रयोग प्रति मौसम दो बार से अधिक न करें — B. tabaci में व्यापक प्रतिरोध देखा गया है।
Spray Tips / छिड़काव सुझाव
- Spray on leaf undersides — whiteflies reside there
- Use high-volume sprayer (200 litres water/acre) for complete coverage
- Spray in early morning or evening (avoid peak heat: 11am–3pm)
- Add sticker-spreader adjuvant for better adhesion
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Prevention Summary / रोकथाम सारांश
- Monitor weekly from 30 DAS onward
- Act at threshold — don"t wait for population explosion
- Rotate chemical groups every spray
- Destroy virus-infected plants immediately
- Never neglect crop residue destruction
