Status of Shoot Fly Atherigona approximata Malloch as a Pest of Bajra Pennisetum typhoides Crop in Gujarat State

Abstract

With advent of hybrid varieties of bajra crop (Pennisetum typhoides) over last decade or so, relatively unknown pest viz. bajra shoot fly Atherigona approximata Malloch has assumed a status of the major pest of bajra in some of the bajra growing States of the country. In Gujarat State also very large area under bajra has been brought under hybrid varieties. Therefore status of shoot fly as a pest of bajra in the State has been reviewed drawing relevant data from number of experiments conducted at Junagadh, Jamnagar, Vijapur etc. It is brought out that the pest occurs regularly in the seedling stage of the crop causing dead hearts. The incidence at Jamnagar is relatively high com-pared to that at Junagadh, while at Anand and Vijapur the incidence is quite low. There is a remarkable increase in incidence with progressive delay in sowing. Bajra sprouts in off season, seed multiplication plots of bajra, haryali (Cynodon dectylon) and to some extent boru (Pennisetum spp.) serve as alternate hosts for this pest. Generally no insecticidal treatment is warranted, as losses due to dead hearts is quite low. In case of high incidence foliar application of endosulfan 0.05% or methyl-demeton 0.025% at 600 1/ha contains the incidence.