PAU LUDHIANA ADVISORY FOR SPRING MAIZE GROWERS

Ludhiana, April 27, 2018: The entomology expert of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Ludhiana has cautioned the spring maize growers against the incidence of Sugarcane pyrilla in spring sown maize. Dr P.K. Chhuneja, Head, Department of Entomology, said Sugarcane pyrilla is a sucking pest that feeds on sugarcane, maize, baru, swank, etc.
On spring sown maize, its incidence is being observed in the crop fields near to standing sugarcane crop, he disclosed. “Both nymphs and adults of pyrilla suck the sap usually from the underside of the leaves, which become yellowish due to loss of plant sap,” he explained. In Punjab, Epiricania melanoleuca nymphal and adult parasitoid of pyrilla is abundant, he said.
In areas where population of Epiricania is low and incidence of pyrilla on the spring maize crop is high, spray Rogor 30 EC or Metasystox 25 EC @ 200 ml per acre, he advised.