Varietal Evaluation and Testing of Synthetic Insecticides Against Peach Aphids (Myzus Persicae Sulzer) Under Field Conditions at Ari, Mingora Swat

Abstract

The current study was carried out at Agricultural Research Institute Swat in order to evaluate the resistance of different peach cultivars to green peach aphid’s infestation and the efficacy of different synthetic insecticides against peach aphids (Myzus persicae Sulzer) during peach season, 2022-23. The study comprised different experiments such as the evaluation of peach cultivars (Coronate, Florida gold, No 4 Flame, China No 5 and A-69 against peach aphid infestation, percent parasitism data collection, and testing of different synthetic insecticides (Bifenthrin, Chlorpyrifos Imidacloprid, and Matrine) against Myzus persicae. The treatments of all the experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block (RCB) design. The green peach aphids populations were significantly different among the tested cultivars. Among the tested cultivars, A-69 was found resistant having a lower infestation of green peach aphids, while peach cultivar Coronate was observed as highly susceptible having the maximum number of aphids per leaf. Data regarding the mean percent parasitism of peach aphids showed that a significantly higher percentage of parasitism per leaf (9.00) was observed in peach cultivar Florida gold, followed by Coronate (8.00). While peach cultivar on cultivars China No. 5 (5.00) and No. 4 flame (7.00) exhibited lower mean percent parasitism of aphids per leaf. Similarly, the maximum yield in kg/tree was recorded in A-69 (76.00) followed by China No.5 (75.00) and No. 4 Flame (73.00). The Florida gold showed a minimum value in terms of yield in kg/tree (45.50) followed by Coronate (46.00 kg/tree). Similarly, the application of different insecticides significantly controlled green peach aphid’s infestation. During the entire season, the application of imidacloprid and bifenthrin effectively minimized the infestation of green peach aphids per leaf. However, a higher mean number of aphid’s were found in untreated controlled plots. Based on the experimental results, peach cultivar A-69 and insecticides (imidacloprid and Bifenthrin) are recommended to the farmers for effective control of Myzus persicae in peach orchards under the agro-ecological conditions of Swat Valley.