Influence of packing material and storage conditions in extending shelf life and quality attributes of Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) Jaggery

Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead is one of most important egg parasitoid found in rice and cotton ecosystem. But indiscriminate use of pesticide not only reduces its population but also limits parasitic potential of such potent parasitoid. Thereby, disrupt the ecological balance. Therefore, this study was conducted to check the relative toxicity of seven various insecticides viz., Flubendiamide 39.35 SC; Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC; fipronil 5 SC; Thiacloprid 21.7 SC; quinalphos 25 EC; lambda-cyhalothrin 5 EC and Thiamethoxam 25 WG against T. japonicum, and studied the egg parasitization and adult emergence of T. japonicum. The results of the present investigation revealed that quinalphos 25 EC exerted harmful effect on egg parasitization of T. japonicum as well as on adult emergence. Further, lambda-cyhalothrin 5 EC and fipronil 5 SC were found moderately harmful and slightly harmful to the egg parasitization, respectively while both were considered as harmless for adult emergence of T. japonicum. The remaining insecticides were found comparatively safer to both egg parasitization and adult emergence of T. japonicum. Basing upon the relative toxicity effect, Flubendiamide 39.35 SC; Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC; Thiacloprid 21.7 SC and Thiamethoxam 25 WG can be used in IPM programme of rice as a consolidated manner with T. japonicum as they were found comparatively safer than rest of the tested insecticide during the present investigation.