EFFICACY OF HORTICULTURAL MINERAL OIL TOWARDS THE MANAGEMENT OF WHITEFLY IN MULBERRY (MORUS SPP.) AND IT'S BIO SAFETY TO SILKWORM (BOMBYX MORI L.)

In an attempt to study the efficacy of horticultural mineral oil for the control of whitefly in mulberry, different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1.0 & 1.5%) were tested along with chemical and unsprayed control for comparison. It was revealed that in all the concentrations there was reduction in whitely population up to 91.12% till seventh day of spray. Resurgent population necessitated a second spray and it was observed that after second spray reduction of population with 0.5% was 85.59% and 31.68% with 1.0%, Treated mulberry leaves were fed to silkworm larvae in mediately after spray from hatching to maturation and there was no significant difference in survival and other economic traits of silkworm. Therefore, horticultural mineral oil can control whitefly up to seven days of spray and is completely bio-safe to silkworm and no safe period is required.