Field efficacy evaluation and standardization of dose of a novel molecule, etoxazole 10% SC (w/w) against the red spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus infesting brinjal (Solanum melongena)

A field experiment was conducted at the Central Research Station farm of Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India during summer seasons of 2010 and 2011 to evaluate the field efficacy and find out the correct dose of a novel molecule etoxazole 10% SC (w/w) for management of the red spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisd.) infesting brinjal (Solanum melongena L.). The chemical etoxazole was evaluated @ 10, 25, 40 and 55 g a.i./ha along with fenpropathrin, hexythiazox and propargite @ 100, 25 and 570 g a.i./ha, respectively. The results revealed that at 21 days after spraying (DAS), the chemical treatments, etoxazole 10% SC (w/w) @ 40 and 55 g a.i./ha and hexythiazox 5.45 EC emerged significantly the best with a record of 0.91-1.14 mites/4cm(2) leaf area and registering 78.03-82.47% reduction over untreated control (5.19 mites/4cm(2) leaf area). Other chemical treatments did not offer satisfactory control of the mites at 21 DAS. Significantly highest marketable fruit yield was recorded in the higher doses of etoxazole 10% SC (w/w) treatments, i.e. @ 40 and 55 g a.i./ha (21.01-21.17 tonnes/ha) with 24.84-25.79 per cent increase in fruit yield over untreated control (16.83 tonnes/ha) closely followed by hexythiazox (20.92 tonnes/ha).