Synthesizing technology of using nuclear polyhedrosis virus to control beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) on shallot

This project has been conducted in Amphur Muang and Amphur Luplair, Uttraradit province during October 2002 to May 2003. The project was divided into 3 phases. Firstly, to compare the efficacy f Spodoptera exigua NPV (SeNPV) with the effective insecticides that most of farmers use for beet armyworm control. Comparing the applications between two dosages of SeNPV, 20, 30 ml and lufenuron 25 ml/20 litre of water, there was no significant difference in number of larvae whereas chlorpyrifos showed less effective control. Comparing the yield of shallot, there was no significant difference in number of larvae whereas chlorpyrifos showed less effective control. Comparing the yield of shallot, there was no significant difference among SeNPV, lufenuron and chlorpyrifos treatments. The second trial was done at the same area on March 2003, two dosages of SeNPV, 15 and 20 ml/20 litre of water and two dosages of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)+SeNPV, 20+20 and 40+15 ml/20 litre of water were compared to chlorpyrifos and lufenuron at the rate of 25 ml/20 litre of water and untreated plot. After third application, there was no significant difference in number of larvae among lufenuron, SeNPV 15 ml, 20 ml and Bt+SeNPV 40-15 ml. There was no significant difference for the yield of shallot in all treatments but in chlorphyrifos and untreated plot showed low quality of the yield since most of the leaves were damaged by the beet armyworm. Secondly, the comparison between synthesizing plots and farmers practice plots were investigated. Five farmers were selected for this trial, SeNPV with action threshold of the beet armyworm were applied into five plots compared to the 5 plots of conventional application by each of farmers. There were no different in the shallot damage, yield and also the quality of shallot at harvest between SeNPV application plots and insecticide plots. Training course on NPV application and NPV production on farmers field condition, in the third phase was established for 147 farmers and agricultural officials. Furthermore, 3 farmers from synthesizing plot could produce NPV by themselves in order to use in the next crops. The alliance organizations who accepted this technology were Office of Agricultural Research and Development Region 2, Department of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology Transfer Center, Department of Agricultural extension.