Advancing Integrated Pest Management: Utilizing Pheromone Traps for Population Monitoring of Plutella xylostella in Cole Crops

Plutella xylostella, commonly known as the diamondback moth poses significant challenges to Cole crops, impacting their growth and ultimately affecting yields. Its rapid reproduction coupled with its ability for developing pesticide resistance has elevated the diamondback moth to a critical concern for farmers and agricultural systems worldwide. The adult population of Diamondback moth was thus monitored during two cropping seasons (Kharif and Rabi season) at three locations viz., Vegetable Experimental Field, Faculty of Horticulture, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Urban Technology Park, SKUAST-K, Habbak and Ichgam village in district Budgam using two different Plutella xylostella synthetic sex lures (SKUAST-K and Chipku lures). During Kharif season, the adult diamondback population was monitored from 18th to 28th SW with a maximum trap catch in the last week of June (26th SW) at Shalimar; whereas, both in Budgam and Habbak, the highest trap catch was in first week of June (23rd SW). However, in Rabi season, the adult population was monitored from 34th to 44th SW; the highest adult trap catch was in third week of September (38th SW) at Shalimar, though, in Budgam and Habbak, the moth catch peaked to maximum collection in first and second week of October (40th and 41st SW), respectively. During both the seasons and at all the locations, SKUAST-K lure proved more efficacious than Chipku lure. Besides, simple correlation analysis revealed that maximum temperature had positive and non-significant correlation with adult moth catches; conversely, the rainfall and relative humidity was negatively correlated and non-significant with P. xylostella adult trap catches throughout both observed seasons.