INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AGAINST BEMISIA TABACI AND TOMATO LEAF CURL NEW DELHI VIRUS (TOLCNDV) AFFECTING ASH GOURD [BENINCASA HISPIDA (THUNB.) COGN.] IN TAMIL NADU.

A field experiment was conducted in the farmer's holdings at Kalathupudhur village, Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu during 2015-2016. Experimental results revealed that the maximum number of PDI were recorded in untreated control 86.86 per cent followed by famer's practise 52 per cent, as minimum number of PDI were recorded in IPM plot 14.20 per cent at 121 DAS. Regarding fruit yield parameters, maximum numbers of harvestable fruits were recorded in IPM plot (11.85), followed by farmer's practice (8.28) as against lowest number of 4.71 fruits per plant in untreated control. The maximum fruit yield of 34.12 tonnes per ha was recorded in IPM plot followed by farmer's practise 22.53 tonnes per ha, as against the minimum fruit yield and cost benefit ratio of 8.62 tonnes per ha in untreated control, respectively. Based on the experimental results revealed that the IPM strategy was significantly superior to farmer's practice and untreated control in reducing the per cent disease incidence, number of fruits per plant and fruits yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]