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A study was conducted to estimate genetic variability among horticultural traits and to evaluate these hybrids for protected environmental cultivation during spring-summer season, 2019 (April-September). Twelve hybrids of tomato were evaluated under modified naturally ventilated poly-house at the Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Vegetable Science and Floriculture, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya following Randomized Complete Block Design (RBD) with three replications, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India. Based on the mean performance, hybrid CLN2126×CLN1314G was found promising for yield plant-1 (4.37 kg) yield m-2 area (26.24 kg), TSS (6.53 °B), days to 50% flowering (26.66 days), days to first picking (67.33 days), number of fruits per plant (64.01), inter-nodal length (17.71 cm), number of nodes plant-1 (16.70 nodes) and plant height 316.87 cm). So, an ideal plant type producing a higher yield per plant will be the one having traits like a higher number of fruits per plant, and lesser days to first picking. It is concluded that the hybrid combination CLN2126×CLN1314G is promising for these traits. This can be included for multi-locational testing in different agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh under protected environment.

BACKGROUND: Keeping in view the serious health and environmental apprehensions associated with the use of pesticides, entomopathogenic nematodes have the potential to supersede larvicidal activity for the management of various insect pests. RESULT: The lab experiments were conducted to test the pathogenicity of two EPNs species S. feltiaeand H. bacteriophora at different (IJs/cm2) concentrations against cabbage pests. Based on the pathogenicity of strains, only two isolates effectively show larvicidal activity. The native isolate was obtained from soil samples, collected from Rajgarh, Hamachi Pradesh, India. Petri dish bioassay use nematodes S. feltiae HR1 and H. bacteriophora HR2 species dose (0, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160/ IJs/cm2). The highest (%) 2nd instar larval mortality was recorded in treatments with H. bacteriophora and S. feltiae @ 160 /IJs/cm-2 were (72.08, 67.42 percent). And 4th instar larval mortality was recorded in treatment with H. bacteriophora, and S. feltiae @ 160 /IJs/cm-2 were (85.38,69.50 percent). The next best treatments in order of their efficacy’s pupae mortality were H. bacteriophora and S. feltiae @ 160 /IJs/cm-2 (74.12, percent) both are seam result, H. bacteriophora and S. feltiae @ 80 /IJs/cm-2 (62.12, 58.58 percent). Larvicidal activity after 48- and 72-hours exposure, the S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora (1.0, 1.30, 1.60, 1.90, 2.20 /IJs/cm2) showed potent larvicidal activity with LC50, LC75 and LC90 of all instars and pupae show high mortality. The strain inhibits the larval and pupal development 48 to 72 hr exposer time with LC50 range from 11.30 to 39.94, LC75 18.15 to 73.54, LC90 61.80 to 99.21.CONCLUSION: These studies demonstrate the challenge for cabbage butterfly P. brassicae. The local indigenous strains of EPNs (S. feltiae HR1, H. bacteriophora HR2) as a good biocontrol agent against, cruciferous vegetables crop pest P. brassicae.

Spodoptera frugiperda invaded in India at the end of 2018 and has caused severe damage to maize including other crops. Several S. frugiperda naturally parasitized by nematodes were observed in Nauni, Himachal Pradesh, India. The morphological features based on the results of scanning electron microscopy indicated that the nematode belongs to the family Mermithidae. Furthermore, characters discovered that the nematode belongs to Ovomermis sinensis, a known entomoparasitic nematode. Our finding was the first record that S. frugiperda, was naturally parasitized by O. sinensis. The results of this study are of great importance for potential biological control of S. frugiperda by indigenous natural beneficial organisms, i.e., O. sinensis within an integrated pest management system.