Bio-efficacy of different ready-mix insecticides against pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa Malloch infesting pigeonpea

Pigeonpea pod fly is a major pest that inflicts severe yield losses by damaging seeds concealed within the pods. Its hidden larval feeding makes it difficult to manage. The maggots feed silently inside pods and seeds, thereby diminishing both seed quality and quantity. To address this issue, the bio-efficacy of different ready-mix insecticides against pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa Malloch, infesting pigeonpea was evaluated in a field experiment conducted during Kharif, 2022-23 and 2023-4 at the Agricultural Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Derol, Gujarat, India. The population of maggot, pupa, per cent pod damage, and seed damage were found considerably reduced in the plot treated with chlorantraniliprole 8.80% + thiamethoxam 17.50% SC and it was at par with indoxacarb 14.50% + acetamiprid 7.70% SC and emamectin benzoate 5% + lufenuron 40% WG. Significantly higher seed yield was obtained in the treatment of chlorantraniliprole 8.80% + thiamethoxam 17.50% SC and it was at par with indoxacarb 14.50% + acetamiprid 7.70% SC and emamectin benzoate 5% + lufenuron 40% WG. The highest net realization (₹ 62,025/ha) was obtained from the plots treated with chlorantraniliprole 8.80% + thiamethoxam 17.50% SC followed by indoxacarb 14.50% + acetamiprid 7.70% SC (₹ 57,525/ha), emamectin benzoate 5% + lufenuron 40% WG (₹ 53,693/ha) while the highest ICBR of neem seed kernel extract 5 per cent was recorded.