Tephritids are the major challenges for fruit and fleshy vegetable growers of the tropics and subtropics. Nepal also incurs huge losses of fruits and vegetables to the tephritids. This study was designed to identify the tephritid flies in Malepatan and Lumle of Gandaki Province. Bucket traps baited with methyl eugenol (ME) in Malepatan, and ME, cue lure (CL) and a mixture of ME and CL (ME+CL) with different releasers; tube, cotton and paper were installed at Lumle in 2020 summer. Three species of the fly (Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera correcta) were recorded from Malepatan, dominated by B. dorsalis. The B. correcta count was negligible. While in Lumle, B. dorsalis was the most dominant, followed by B. zonata till July, after which, till August, B. tau followed the B. dorsalis. Seven species of the tephritids (B. zonata, B. dorsalis, B. tau, B. diversa, B. scutellaris, B. correcta and B. cucurbitae) were recorded from this region. Among the releasers, paper releaser was found more effective as compared to cotton and tube. However, the lures should be changed in a short interval, by two weeks, to acquire a satisfactory result. This study unveils that the study site already inhabits seven species of fruit flies. So, the monitoring with different cues could be an effective tool for species actuation. Additionally, the paper releasers could be recommended for further use in the traps for monitoring and mass trapping purposes.

An experiment was conducted to study the life cycle, seasonal abundance and management practices of coffee white stem borer (Xylotrechus quadripes) at Horticulture Research Station, Kaski, Pokhara, Nepal from April, 2016 to October, 2019. The life cycle of coffee white stem borer was studied in laboratory by inoculation of first instar larvae into coffee branches up to adult emergence. The first instar larvae took 94±3 days to become adult. The monthly observation on the emergence of this borer showed that it was highly weather dependent and has two peak periods of emergence: April - June and September - November. Coffee white stem borer infestation was reduced to 11.11% with the application of treatments like scrubbing of stem and application of red soil mixed with fresh cow dung (1:1) or by stem scrubbing and application of Bordeaux paste on it followed by root zone application of Metarrhizium anisopliae (22.22%) or Beauveria bassiana (22.22%), or spraying of 10% lime (22.22%). Proper and timely management practices during cultivation and selection of borer resistant genotype seem beneficial for the coffee growers. Further, application of borer management practices based on abundance models are recommended to minimize the pest infestation.

Kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica L.) belongs to the plant family Convolvulaceae. A set of varietal trial was conducted in Directorate of Agricultural Research Khajura, Banke, Nepal with three genotypes; HRDKAN001 (Combodian), HRDKAN002 (Thaipalungo as check variety) and HRDKAN003 (Bangladeshi); which were collected through National Horticulture Research Centre, Khumaltar. The objectives of this experiment were to select high yielding genotypes for green leaf production during summer season. The experiments were carried out in two consecutive years, April 2017 and 2018 and laid out in Randomized completely block design with seven replications in open field condition. The spacing was maintained 50 cm row to row and 30 cm within the row in each year. Plants were fertilized with 200:150:120 kg NPK and 20 tons farm-yard manure per hectare. Data were recorded on vegetative growth, disease response, vegetative yield, qualitative parameter and consumer’s preference. From the result of experiment, HRDKAN001 and HRDKAN002 were found to be higher yielding and showed good cooking quality and these genotypes were selected for the further evaluation at Khajura and similar agro-ecological conditions of Nepal.