Background Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have the potential to supersede larvicidal activity for the management of various insect pests. Result Lab experiments were conducted to test the pathogenicity of 2 EPNs local species; Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora at different (IJs/cm2) concentrations against the cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae (L.). The native isolate was obtained from soil samples, collected from Rajgarh, Hamachi Pradesh, India. Petri dish bioassay used the EPNs species (S. feltiae HR1 and H. bacteriophora HR2) at the concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 IJs/cm2). Based on the pathogenicity of the strains, only 2 isolates effectively showed larvicidal activity. The highest (%) (72.08 and 67.42%), at the 2nd instar larval mortality was recorded in the treatments with H. bacteriophora and S. feltiae at160 IJs/cm2, respectively. At the 4th instar larvae, respective larval mortality (85.38, 69.50%) was recorded in treatment with H. bacteriophora, and S. feltiae, respectively, at160 IJs/cm2. In case of pupae, the mortality rates were (62.12, 58.58%) for H. bacteriophora and S. feltiae, respectively, at 160 IJs/cm2; (74 and 12%) for both the tested EPNs, respectively, at 80 IJs/cm2. Percent of P. brassicae larval mortality treated with the tested EPN isolates was significantly higher than the untreated control. Results revealed that the percent of larval mortality significantly increased with the increase in time periods, being maximum at 72 h. S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora, strains showed potent larvicidal activity at low concentration even at 48 and 72 h of exposure. Conclusion This study revealed that the local strains of EPNs (S. feltiae HR1 and H. bacteriophora HR2) were found as a biocontrol agent against P. brassicae.

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.

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.

The agro-climatic zones survey was conducted diversity and frequency of endemic entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in Apple orchards in Rajgarh, western Himalayas. Isolated EPNs have been used as an active biocontrol agent against T. absoluta and S. frugiperda. The total survey of 42 locations apple orchards were collected from which 281 soil samples and tested 7 soil samples are positive for the presence of EPN. Native isolated strains morphologically and molecular identification of nematodes, insect and bacterial sequencing and characterisation of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 18S, 12S and 16S region was used to identify all nematode isolates, insects and bacterial strains upto species level (S. feltiae UHF-HR1, H. bacteriophora UHF-HR2; T. absoluta SN1, S. frugiperda SN2; X. bovienii R1, P. luminenscens R2). There have been used as an active biocontrol agent against T. absoluta and S. frugiperda. The bioassay of after 72 hours with different concentrations of 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 IJs/cm2, the data susceptibility of T. absoluta 4th larval and S. frugiperda 5th instar to infection with the nematode S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora mortality range 74.12 to 90.00 percentage mortalities. To assess the lethal concentration of entomopathogenic nematodes to insect larvae, a toxicity evaluation the LD50 and LD90 for S. feltiae and H. bacteriophora doses in final instar the best larvicidal activity was obtained during the 72-hour exposure period, The susceptibility of infection was found to be greater than 80%. The strains R1 and R2 bacterial isolates were bioassay experiments were X. bovienii and P. luminescens of treatment throughout the investigation, daily larval mortality ranged from 0.00 to 90.00 percent. Our analysis confirmed the steep inclination of S. frugiperda and T. absoluta. S. feltiae UHF-HR1 and H. bacteriophora UHF-HR2 & Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus were utilised, with 90 percent control over both entomopathogenic nematodes and their symbiotic bacterial strains.

Biology of Platynaspis saundersi (Crotch) was studied under laboratory conditions at the Department of Entomology, Dr YSP University of Horticulture and Forestry, Himachal Pradesh, India. The mean preoviposition period was 7.00± 0.21 days, while the oviposition period was 43.50± 0.35 days. The female lays 130.30± 5.96 eggs and the hatching was 86.32± 3.12%, with incubation period being 5.0± 0.47 days and the larval period was for 12.40± 0.35 days. The observed prepupal and pupal periods were 1.50± 0.48 and 7.50± 0.21 day, with longevity of male and female being 70.00± 2.00 and 79.00± 0.89 days, respectively.