author(s)
KD Bisane, NM Patil, B Padmanaban, SP Saxena and Prakash Patil

abstract
Red rust thrips, Chaetanophothrips signipennis (Bagnall) (Thripidae: Thysanoptera), is a major concern affecting the commercial value of fruits in the banana-growing belt of Gujarat and Maharashtra, as well as Tamil Nadu, India. In this context, a multi-location trial was attempted at F.R.S., Gandevi, B.R.S., Jalgaon and ICAR-NRCB, Tiruchirappalli under the ICAR-AICRP (Fruits) program. Results observed over three years of the efficacy of bio-rational pesticides for rust thrips management indicated that bud injection of imidacloprid (0.3 ml/500 ml water) @ 1 ml/bud minimized fruit infestation by rust thrips up to 9.08% at Gandevi, Gujarat and 13.81% at Jalgaon, Maharashtra over the conventional spraying and bunch sleeving method. Significantly comparable data was observed with bud injection of azadirachtin (1%) (5 ml/l water) @ 2 ml/bud over conventional spray at both the locations. At Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, a higher number of blemish-free fruits was produced by bud injection with imidacloprid @ 1 ml/bud and bunch sleeving at the shooting stage. The virtues of effective technology furnished a higher number of unblemished fruits and original peel superficial appearance remains impassive under the bud injection method with imidacloprid and azadicacthin as well as a better BC ratio offered due to very low dose of pesticide. Also, the imidacloprid residue was not detected in the fruit at harvest.