ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur

PINK BOLLWORM MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR KHARIF 2021

For Research Institutions (ICAR-CICR) and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)

1. Monitoring for insect resistance to cry toxins and insecticides. The results and
recommendations may be provided periodically to the state agricultural departments and
other stakeholders.
2. SAUs to identify high productive short duration Bt varieties/hybrids preferably tolerant to
sap-sucking insect pests. The list may be provided to the state agricultural department.
3. Planting of Bt varieties/hybrids and non-Bt varieties on research farms for regular pest
monitoring and region-specific assessment of pest situation.
4. Provide training for mass multiplication of parasitoids to provide sustainability in cotton
production.
5. Issue regular weekly advisories for benefit of farmers.
6. Conduct front-line demonstrations on best practices for promoting scientific pest
management in Bt varieties/hybrids and non-Bt varieties.

For State Agricultural Department

1. Farmers may be apprised of a list of high productive short duration varieties/hybrids that
would escape pink bollworm. Farmers may be informed that long duration hybrids would
attract higher pink bollworm infestation.
2. Facilitate mass production of biological control agent Trichogramma bactrae. The
parasitoids may be released during bol formation stage.
3. Farmers may be advised to:
a. install pink bollworm pheromone traps @ 2 traps per acre at 45 days after sowing,
b. to remove and destroy ‘Rosette flowers’,
c. to initiate chemical control measures when pest crossed ETL (Economic Threshold
Level) - i.e. 10% damaged flowers (Rosette flowers) or 10% damaged green bolls (at least
two out of 20 bolls having white or pink larvae or exit holes) or 8 moths catch per
pheromone trap for consecutive 3 days.
d. to spray Profenofos 50 EC Or Chlorpyrifos 20 % EC Or Quinalphos 20AF Or
Thiodicarb 75 WP Or Indoxacarb 14.5 SC Or Emamectin benzoate 5SG during mid -
August to October and use synthetic pyrethroids such as Fenvelerate 20% EC Or
Cypermethrin 10% EC Or Lambda cyhalothrin 5%EC in November (or boll development
stage). Insecticide sprays may be taken up in November-December only in fields having
at-least 8-10 green bolls per plant. Insecticide spray must be done to protect green bolls
only after picking the fully open bolls.
4. Farmers may be encouraged to access pest situation on their farms. About 20 green bolls
from 20 random plants may be dissected once a week from mid-September to December.
Only on attaining ETL, the above insecticide sprays may be recommended.
5. Recommend termination of all cotton crop by October in north zone states (Punjab,
Haryana and Rajasthan) India where sowing is done in April-May and in December/mid-
January in central and South zone states where sowing is being taken up in June.
6. Encourage installation of pheromone traps at all market yards and ginneries for mass
trapping of pink bollworm moths.
7. Encourage programs for cotton stalk composting or chaffing and incorporation in soil to
improve carbon content.
 8. Cotton stalks have industrial application for particle boards, energy, charcoal pelleting etc.
Area-wide collection and processing may be taken up for effective utilization of cotton
stalks for value addition that also provides additional income to farmers. Trichoderma can
be used for stalk decomposition.
9. Conduct regular trainings for farmers on pest scouting and eco-friendly management
practices.
10. Encourage farmers to follow IPM/IRM practices especially during the first three months of
crop growth which will delay or even avert or minimize use of insecticides.
11. Strictly discourage the use of insecticide mixtures.
12. Consider the weekly advisories issued by ICAR-CICR and State Agricultural Universities
for dissemination among farmers.
13. ICAR-CICR has developed integrated “CICR Cotton App” and it is available in Google
play store. Weekly Advisories issued by ICAR-CICR shall also be made available on
CICR Cotton App in addition to ICAR-CICR website. All stakeholders are recommended
to use and encourage wide use of ICAR-CICR Cotton Advisory and the App for better
cotton production and pest management.
14. Launch Extensive Awareness Campaign to avoid pre-season sowing as well as minimize
the sowing window.

For Seed Companies

1. Promote short duration early maturing varieties/hybrids that mature in less than 180 days.
2. Discontinue long duration hybrids that promote multiple cycles of pink bollworm and
aggravate insect resistance to cry toxins. Such hybrids are also prone to risk of other
bollworm damage.
3. Ensure that the RIB is followed and refuge seed variety/hybrid provided with Bt-hybrid
seeds is also of same hybrid/ variety and maturity duration.

For Farmers

1. Crop rotation to be followed to break the life cycle of pink bollworm

2. Procure seeds of authentic Bt-cotton hybrids or variety.
3. Timely sowing to be completed in short window with early maturing short duration Bt-
cotton hybrids/ varieties recommended for the region to escape from pink bollworm attack.
4. Inspect the crop at squaring and flowering stage for presence of pink bollworm larvae
flowers.
5. Fields that has suffered heavy damage due to pink bollworm last year may be closely
monitored during the current season.
6. Monitoring of pink bollworms using pheromone traps may be initiated 45 days after
sowing. Install pheromone traps @ 2 per acre for monitoring moth activity of pink
bollworm.
7. Use lures of authentic quality and change them at recommended intervals.
8. Inspect the crop at squaring and flowering stage for presence of PBW larvae flowers and
the ETL at this stage is 10% damaged flowers (Rosette flowers). If necessary spraying of
recommended insecticide may be taken up.
9. At boll formation stage, farmers are advised to inspect presence and damage of PBW by
plucking 20 green bolls from different plants randomly. ETL (Economic Threshold Level)
of pink bollworm is 8 moths catch per pheromone trap for consecutive 3 days and or 10%
damaged flowers or green bolls (at least two out of 20 bolls having white or pink larvae/
exit holes).
 10. Strictly avoid spraying pyrethroids before November or any insecticide mixtures at any
time to prevent whitefly/aphid outbreaks.
11. Spray of neem seed Kernel extract 5% + Neem oil 50 ml/ + detergent powder/ soap 10gm
in 10 litres of water at 50-60 DAS.
12. Release of Trichogramma bactrae @ 60000/acre thrice at weekly intervals between 90-120
DAS. Avoid spraying of insecticides at least for 10 days from date of release of parasitoid.
13. Picking of clean and infested cotton may be carried out separately. Clean cotton may be
stored or marketed. Infested cotton should be destroyed.
14. Do not use extremely (Red triangle) to highly hazardous (yellow triangle) insecticides as
these insecticides are not only ecologically hazardous, but are also detrimental to several
important predatory insects such as the coccinellid beetles and several parasitoid wasps and
also to human being.
15. Terminate the crop by October in North India and by December/mid-January in central
and south India.
16. Always use label claim chemical insecticides for pest control.
17. Never use tank mixtures of any agrochemicals alongwith insecticides.
18. Clean up fields of residual stalks and partially opened bolls.
19. Do not store infested or stained cotton in godowns.
20. If cotton is stored in godowns or stalked in field for longer time, put up pheromone trap to
capture emerging adult PBW moths.

For Ginneries and market yard

1. Maintain cleanliness in and around ginneries.
2. Install pheromone traps near ginneries/ go-downs, ginning mills, market yards, storage
rooms etc., to trap post season moths or suicidal emergence if any.

Boll rot management (Central and Southern zone) – experienced in 2020-21 season
1) Prophylactic sprays of Copper oxychloride 50 WP @25 g+ [Streptomycin sulphate IP 90%
w/w+ Tetracycline hydrochloride IP 10% w/w] @1 g in 10 litres of water is suggested
during early boll developmental stages (60-90 days after sowing, DAS) at 15 days intervals
for the management of inner boll rot, if persistent cloudy weather, high relative humidity,
flash and drizzle rain occurred during squaring, flowering and boll development stages.
2) Monitoring of infestation and management of sucking pests (jassids and thrips) and green
stink bugs/brown bugs/red cotton bugs as:
(60-90 DAS): Flonicamid 50 WG@ 4 g or Dinotefuran 20 SG@ 3 g or Diafenthiuron 50
WP@ 10 g in 10 litres of water for control of pre-disposing sucking pests; to prevent
external fungal boll rot/ leaf spots, spray of Carbendazim 50% WP @ 20 g or Kresoxim-
methyl 44.3% SC @10 ml or Pyraclostrobin 20% WP @ 20 g or Propineb 70% WP @25-
30 g (Pyraclostrobin5% + Metiram 55%WG) @20 g or Propiconazole 25% EC @10 ml or
(Azoxystrobin18.2% w/w+Difenoconazole11.4% w/w SC) @ 10 ml or (Fluxapyroxad
167g/l + Pyraclostrobin 333 g/l SC) @ 6 g in 10 litres of water is recommended (need based
as per occurrence of symptoms or 75-90 DAS)
To

1. The Principal Secretary (agriculture/ agriculture Commissioner, Govt of Andhra Pradesh, J-

Block, A. P. secretariat, Hyderabad-500022
2. The commissioner & Director of agriculture, Department of agriculture, Govt. of Andhra
Pradesh, Opp. L. B. stadium, basheerbagh, Huderabad-500001
3. The Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Co-operation, Block No. 5, First floor,
New Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
4. The Director Agriculture Sector - 10, High Road, Krishi Bhavan, Gandhinagar. Gujarat, India.
5. The Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra, Agriculture Department,
Mantralaya, Mumbai - 400032
6. The Agriculture Commissioner, Commissionrate of Agriculture Government of Maharashtra,
Central Building, 3'rd floor, Pune 411001
7. The Principal Secretary (Agriculture), Department of Farmers’ Welfare & Agriculture
Development, Room No 83, Vallabh Bhawan, Bhopal 462004
8. The Director Agriculture Department of Agriculture Second Floor, Vindyachal Bhavan Bhopal
Madhya Pradesh
9. The Secretary (Agriculture), Govt. Of Telangana, 1st Floor , D-Block, Telangana Secretariat,
Hydrabad.
10. The Commissioner, Department of Agriculture Government of Telangana Basheerbagh
Hyderabad.
11. The Secretary (Agriculture), Government of Karnataka, Dr. Ambedkar Road, MS Building, 4th
Floor, Gate no .3, Room no 403, Bangalore-560001.
12. The Director of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Sheshadri Road, K.R Circle,
Bangalore- 560001, Karnataka
13. The Principal Secretary (Agriculture) , Government of Tamil Nadu, Secreatoriat , Fort St.
George, Chennai-600005.
14. The Director of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chepauk, Chennai-600005
15. The Agriculture Commissioner , DAC&FW, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and
Farmers Welfare , Room No. 297-D , Krishi Bhavan , New Delhi -110 001.
16. The President, National Seed Association of India, 9 K.G.Marg, Atul Grove Road, Janpath,
Cannaught place New Delhi
17. The Principal Secretary to Govt. of Haryana, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Agriculture and
farmers Welfare Department, Krishi Bhavan, Sector 21, Krishi Bhawan, Budanpur, Panchkula,
Haryana 134117
18. The Additional Chief Secretary to Govt, Agriculture, Secretariat Jaipur, Rajasthan (India) –
302005.
19. The Addl. Chief Secretary, Agriculture, Horticulture & Food Processing, Punjab Civil
Secretariat 2, Chandigarh -160011, Punjab
20. The Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Department Of Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment,
Odisha Secretariat, Government of Odisha, Bhubneswar-751001, Odisha
21. The Vice Chancellor, Anand Agricultural University, Anand -388 110 Gujarat.
22. The Vice Chancellor, Junagarh Agricultural university, Near Motibag, Vanthali Road Junagarh
-362 001 Gujarat.
23. The Vice Chancellor, Navsari Agricultural University, Vijalpore, Navsari-396450, Gujarat
24. The Vice Chancellor, Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardar Krushinagar, Dantiwada,
Banaskantha-385506, Gujarat
25. The Vice Chancellor, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeath, P.O. Krishi Nagar, Akola
-444104.
26. The Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri-413722, Ahmednagar,
Maharashtra
27. The Vice Chancellor, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani -431402,
Maharashtra
28. The Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Krishi Nagar, Jabalpur-
482004, M.P.
29. The Vice Chancellor, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Gwalior-474002,
Madhya Pradesh
30. The Vice Chancellor, Professor Jayshankar Telangana State Agriculture University , Administrative
Office , Rajendranagar , Hydrabad -500 003, Telangana.
31. The Vice Chancellor, Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural Univ., Amaravathi Road, Lam, Andhra Pradesh
522034
32. The Vice Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka
33. The Vice Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Banglore- 560065, Karnataka
34. The Vice Chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur-584102, Karnataka
35. The Vice Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003, Tamil Nadu
36. The Vice Chancellor, CCS Hayana Agricultural University Hisar - 125004, India
37. The Vice Chancellor, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University,
Bikaner - 334006 Rajasthan
38. The Vice Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, INDIA
39. The Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Unit 8, Near Post Office, Surya Nagar,
Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751003
40. The Director, National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bellary Road, H.A. Farm Post, Hebbal,
Bengaluru, Karnataka 560024
41. The Director, ICAR-National Research Centre for Integrated Pest Management, Pusa Campus, New
Delhi-110012
42. The Director, National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), Sri Venkateshwara Veterinary
University, Mahatma Gandhi Block, Himayat Sagar Rd, Near By, Budwel, Hyderabad- 500030,
Telangana State
43. The Joint Director Agriculture, Administrative Building No 2, Civil Lines Nagpur-440001
44. The Joint Director Agriculture, Krushi Bhavan, Vidyapeeth Road, Amravati-444602, Dist Amravati
45. The Joint Director Agriculture, East of collector office, barshi road, Latur-413512,. Dist-Latur
46. The Joint Director Agriculture, Kranti Chowk, Kotla Colony, Samta Nagar, Aurangabad, Maharashtra
431005

Copy to
1. The Secretary DARE and Director General, ICAR, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi
2. The Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi
3. The Assistant Director General (Commercial Crops), ICAR, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi
4. The Assistant Director General (Plant Protection & Bio safety) ICAR, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi
5. The Agriculture Commissioner, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (Crops
Division),Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi-110001
6. The joint Secretary (Seeds), Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (Crops
Division),Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi-110001
7. The Depty Commissioner Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare
(Crops Division),Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi-110001
8. The Assistant commissioner Agriculture, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare
(Crops Division),Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi-110001
9. The Director, Directorate of Cotton Development (DCD), Government of India, Near Centre Point
School, Katol Road, Bhoomi Sarvekshan Bhavan, Nagpur 440013.