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General Info
| Code | Ent XI | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Bioecology and management of mealy bugs infesting black pepper | |
| Crop(s) | Black Pepper | |
| Start year | 1998 | Closed |
| End year | 2003 | |
| Investigators | Name | Man-months |
| K M Abdulla Koya | 25 | |
| S Devasahayam | 15 | |
| M. Anandaraj | 6 | |
Objectives
- To study all aspects of the problem of widespread infestation by mealybugs on black pepper roots.
- To conduct surveys to find out the areas where the pest infestation was more and also the extent and nature of damage caused by the pest.
- Study the interaction of mealybug with the fungus Phytophthora capsici causing foot rot disease of black pepper
- Evolving control measures against the pest was necessary to save the vines.
Salient Achievements
- Surveys conducted in Wyanad District showed that mealybug population was less during summer. In Kodagu District of Karnataka, out of 39 gardens surveyed, 13 gardens showed mild level and 3 gardens medium level infestations.
- Mealybugs were noticed on roots of black pepper vines upto a depth of 2 feet under the soil.
- Out of seven host materials tested, pumpkin and squash were found most ideal for culturing mealybugs.
- Drenching the root zone of infested pepper vines with 0.075% chlorpyriphos was found to suppress the pest population.
