Cultural Management

  • Use tolerant varieties like JM-1 and RK-9501
  • Growing short duration varieties: T 6342, RLM 514, Varuna, PK 9, RH785, RLM 528
  • ETL: 50 – 60 aphids per plant at flower bud initiation
  • Destroy the affected parts along with aphid population in the initial stage
  • The crop sown before 20th October escapes the damage
  • Set up yellow stick trap to monitor aphid population
  • Conserve the following natural enemies: Ladybird beetles viz., Coccinella septempunctata, Menochilus sexmaculata, Hippodamia variegata and Cheilomones vicina that are most efficient predators of the mustard aphid. Adult beetles may feed on an average of 10-15 adults/day
  • Several species of syrphid fly i.e., Sphaerophoria spp., Eristallis spp., Metasyrphis spp., Xanthogramma spp and Syrphus spp. are predating on aphids
  • The braconid parasitoid Diaretiella rapae, a very active bio-control agent causes the mummification of aphids