Sesamum is one of the oldest oilseed crops and can be cultivated as Kharif, summer and also as a semi-rabi crop.The crop needs to be prevented from various pests which may damage the crop.
Major pests of sesamum are:-
1.Leaf webber/ roller and capsule borer: Antigastra catalaunalis
Symptoms of damage:
- The young larvae roll together a few top leaves and feed them
- In the early stage of infestation, the plant dies without producing any branch or shoot
- In later stage of attack, infested shoots stop growing
- At flowering, larvae feed on the flowers and on capsule formation, larvae bore into capsule and feed on developing seeds
Identification of the pest:
- Larvae: Greenish in colour with black head having short white hairs
- Adult: Medium sized moth with reddish yellow forewings
Management:
- Two sprayings with neem formulation 0.03%
- Spray any one of the following:
- Carbaryl 50 WP 1000 g/ha in 500 litres of water
- Neem seed kernels extract 5%
- Neem oil 2% (two rounds)
- Use alternate insecticides each time and avoid the usage of the same insecticide every time.
2.Hawk or Dead head moth (Sphinx caterpillar): Acherontia styx
Symptoms of damage:
- The young larvae roll together a few top leaves and feed them
- In the early stage of infestation, the plant dies without producing any branch or shoot
- In later stage of attack, infested shoots stop growing
- At flowering, larvae feed on the flowers and on capsule formation, larvae bore into capsule and feed on developing seeds
Identification of the pest:
- Larvae: Greenish in colour with black head having short white hairs
- Adult: Brownish giant hawk moth, thorax with a characteristic skull marking, abdomen has violet and yellow band. Forewings are dark brown and Hind wings are yellowish with 2 black lines
Management:
- Deep ploughing exposes the pupae for predation to insectivorous birds
- Hand picking collection and destruction of caterpillars
- Two rounds of dusting with phosalone 4% or malathion 5%, first at 30 days after sowing (DAS) and second at 45 DAS.
3.Linseed gall fly: Dasyneura sesame
Symptoms of damage:
- Fully grown larvae make a hole in the bud and damage the flower
Identification of the pest:
- Larva: Maggots are whitish, legless
- Adult: Mosquito like fly
Management:
- The infested buds should be removed and destroyed to reduce further incidence of the pest
- Release larval parasite Pteromalus fasciatus in the field
- Spray crop at bud initiation stage with dimethoate @0.03%.
4.Gall fly: Asphondylia sesami
Symptoms of damage:
- Maggots feed inside the floral bud
- Leading to Formation of gall-like structure which does not develop into flower/capsules
- The flower buds wither and drop
Identification of the pest:
- Larva: Maggots are whitish, legless and with body tapering exteriorly
- Adult: Mosquito like fly
Management:
- Two sprayings with neem formulation 0.03%
- Spray any one of the followings
- Carbaryl 50 WP 1000 g/ha in 500 litres of water
- Neem seed kernels extract 5%
- Neem oil 2% (two rounds)
- Use alternate insecticides each time and avoid the usage of the same insecticide every time.
5.Leaf hopper: Orosius albicinctus
Symptoms of damage:
- Curling of leaf edges and leaves turn red or brown
- The leaves dry up and shed
- Vector of sesamum phyllody
Identification of the pest:
- Adult: Light brown coloured hopper
Management:
- Spray any one of the followings
- Methyl demeton 25% EC 1200 m l/ha
- Quinalphos 25% EC 2000 ml/ha.
6.Aphids: Aphis gossypii
Symptoms of damage:
- Crinkling and curling of leaves
- Leaves appear shiny and sticky due to honeydew excreted by the insects
- Later sooty mold grows on honeydew and leaves have a black coating
Identification of the pest:
- Adult: Yellowish to dark
Management:
- Seed treatment with imidacloprid (5g/kg seed) keeps the crop free of sucking pests over a month.
- Paint on the stem with a mixture of imidacloprid: water (1:20) at 20, 40 and 60 days of sowing.
Source-
- TamilNadu Agritech Portal
