Journal of Biological Control

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Biodiversity of Biocontrol Agents in Sunflower Ecosystem


Affiliations
1 Oilseeds Research (ICAR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500030, Andhra Pradesh, India
 

Several species of both beneficial and harmful insects are associated with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). In sunflower ecosystem, 48 species of natural enemies are recorded comprising 7 parasitoids, 24 insect predators, 9 spiders and 8 predatory birds. Majority of the insect predators belong to Coleoptera,Hemiptera, Mantodea, Orthoptera, Odonata and Neuroptera whereas hymenopterans comprised both predators and parasitoids. Among the 48 species of natural enemies recorded in the sunflower ecosystem, the predominant species are Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (on eggs of Helicoverpa armigera), Charops obtusus Morley (on Spilarctia obliqua Walker), Campoletis chlorideae Uchida, Rhogas percurrens Lyle (on H. armigera larvae) and Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (on Spodoptera litura larvae). Among predators, coccinellids, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.), Brumoides suturalis (Fab.), Chilocorus nigritas (F.), Coccinella septempunctata L. and Scymnus sp. keep a good check on eggs and early stage larvae of Lepidoptera and sucking pests. In addition, Chrysoperla (carnea-group), Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff), Rhynocoris kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone, Geocoris tricolor F. and Anthocoris sp., mantids, Eumantissa sp., Ceriagrion coromandelianum (F.), Ischnura sp., Dolichopus sp., Therevia sp., microbial agents and predatory birds play a vital role in the suppression of insect pests in sunflower. Though the activity of major predators like coccinellids and spiders was noticed in all the cropping seasons, maximum population was found during September and January, coinciding with the maximum population of insect pests.

Keywords

Sunflower, Biocontrol Agents, Biodiversity.
User
Notifications

  • AICRP, 1990. AICRP-Sunflower, Annual progress report of sunflower. Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, 171 pp.

  • AICRP, 1991. AICRP-Sunflower, Annual progress report of Sunflower. Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, 233 pp.

  • AICRP, 1993. AICRP-Sunflower, Annual Report, 2006-07. Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, 222 pp.

  • AICRP, 2007. AICRP-Sunflower, Annual Report, 2006-07 Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, 230 pp.

  • AICRP, 2009. AICRP-Sunflower, Annual Report, 2008-09. Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, 233 pp.

  • AICRP, 2011. AICRP-Sunflower, Annual Report, 2010-11. Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, 251 pp.

  • Basappa, H. 2004. Integrated pest management in sunflower: An Indian scenario. Proceedings, 16th International Sunflower Conference, Fargo North Dakota, USA Aug. 29-Sept. 2, 2004, 2: 853-859.

  • Basappa, H. 2007. Population of predators associated with leafhopper in sunflower. Journal of Biological Control, 21: (Special issue): 85–87.

  • Basappa, H. 2008. Biodiversity of arthropods and vertebrates in sunflower ecosystem, Leslie Coleman memorial National Symposium on plant protection, UAS, Bangalore, Dec., 4–6, 2008.

  • Basappa, H. and Santha Lakshmi Prasad, M. 2005. Insect pests and diseases of sunflower and their management. Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad 500 030, India, 83 pp.

  • Basappa, H., Vimala Devi, P. S., Prasad, R. D., Harvir Singh, Basu, M. S., Duhoon, S. S., Srivastava, R. L. Vijay Singh, Raoof, M. A., Lakshminarayana, M., Santha Lakshmi Prasad, M., Sharma, A. N. and Malik, Y. P. 2005. In: D. M. Hedge (ed.), Biocontrol in Oilseed Crops, Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, 24 pp.

  • DOR, 2010, Sunflower: Package of Practices for increasing production. 5th revised edition. (Compiled by Babu S.N.S, Harvir Singh, Ranganatha, A.R.G, Basappa, H, Chander Rao, S and Edited by Hegde D.M), Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, 24 pp.

  • Goel, S. C. and Kumar, A. 1990. Insect pests and predators associated to sunflower in winters of northern India. Indian Journal of Entomology, 52: 39–45.

  • Patel, A. J. and Talati, G. M. 1987. Biology of Heliothis armigera Hubner as a pest of sunflower (Helianthus annuus Linn.). Gujrat Agriculture University Research Journal, 12: 54.

  • Sandhu, G. S., Brar, K. S. and Bhalla, J. S. 1973. Pests of sunflower and other insects associated with sunflower crop. Oilseeds Journal, 3: 19–26.

  • Shetgar, S. S., Bilapate, G. G., Patel, V. V. and Londhe, G. M. 1990. A note on the natural enemies of bihar hairy caterpillar, Spilosoma obliqua Walker. Indian Journal of Entomology, 52: 158.

  • Singh, S. P. and Ballal, C. R. 1999. Role of Biocontrol in IPM, pp. 57–65. In: Integrated Pest Management in Sunflower Directorate of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad, India. 93 pp.


Abstract Views: 333

PDF Views: 170




  • Biodiversity of Biocontrol Agents in Sunflower Ecosystem

Abstract Views: 333  |  PDF Views: 170

Authors

H. Basappa
Oilseeds Research (ICAR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, 500030, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract


Several species of both beneficial and harmful insects are associated with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). In sunflower ecosystem, 48 species of natural enemies are recorded comprising 7 parasitoids, 24 insect predators, 9 spiders and 8 predatory birds. Majority of the insect predators belong to Coleoptera,Hemiptera, Mantodea, Orthoptera, Odonata and Neuroptera whereas hymenopterans comprised both predators and parasitoids. Among the 48 species of natural enemies recorded in the sunflower ecosystem, the predominant species are Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (on eggs of Helicoverpa armigera), Charops obtusus Morley (on Spilarctia obliqua Walker), Campoletis chlorideae Uchida, Rhogas percurrens Lyle (on H. armigera larvae) and Cotesia flavipes (Cameron) (on Spodoptera litura larvae). Among predators, coccinellids, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.), Brumoides suturalis (Fab.), Chilocorus nigritas (F.), Coccinella septempunctata L. and Scymnus sp. keep a good check on eggs and early stage larvae of Lepidoptera and sucking pests. In addition, Chrysoperla (carnea-group), Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff), Rhynocoris kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone, Geocoris tricolor F. and Anthocoris sp., mantids, Eumantissa sp., Ceriagrion coromandelianum (F.), Ischnura sp., Dolichopus sp., Therevia sp., microbial agents and predatory birds play a vital role in the suppression of insect pests in sunflower. Though the activity of major predators like coccinellids and spiders was noticed in all the cropping seasons, maximum population was found during September and January, coinciding with the maximum population of insect pests.

Keywords


Sunflower, Biocontrol Agents, Biodiversity.

References