Bioefficacy and phytotoxicity evaluation of acaricide against European red mite, panonychus ulmi (Koch) on apple

Experiments were laid out to evaluate the bioefficacy and phytotoxicity of acaricide Fenpyroximate 5% SC (Sedna 5 SC) under glass house as well as in apple orchard in Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH), Regional Station, Mukteshwa, situated at an altitude of 7000 ft above msl. Mite population was effectively controlled by application of two sprays of Fenpyroximate at cons. 0.005% and closely followed by 0.00375% Fenpyroximate. Spryas of 0.005% Fenpyroximate kept the mite populatioin 0.00, 0.00, 0.25 and 0.72 mite/leaf on 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day after first spray, respectively. This was closely followed by concentration of 0.00375% Fenpyroximate and 0.037% Dicofol with 0.81 and 0.00 mite/leaf on 7th day, 1.37 and 1.60 mite/leaf on 14th day and 1.79 and 2.98 mite/leaf on 21st day, respectively. Second spray on 28th day again controlled the popuation 0.00,0.00 and 0.39 mite/leaf on 10th, 20th and 30th day after second spray, respectively. Fenpyroximate at 0.00375% also controlled mite population effectively with 0.38, 0.75 and 1.63 mite/leaf on the respective days after second spray. Vegetative response in terms of height increment, number of new shoot, new shoot growth, leaf area and retention of leaves were found to be significantly better on the plants which received 0.005% Fenpyroximate in comparison to the control and other treatments. No any phytotoxicity symptoms were noticed in terms of leaf injury, wilting, vein cleaning, leaf necrosis, epinasty and hyponasty during the observation period.