Evaluation of Trap Crops for Management of Budworm, Helicoverpa armigera in Flue Cured Virginia Tobacco*
Field experiment conducted to find out the suitability of trap crop for managing budworm, Helicoverpa armigera in flue cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco indicated that marigold-sw (with single whorl ray florets) and rustica tobacco trapped more budworm eggs and larvae. The infestation of budworm was also less on flue cured Virginia tobacco with these two trap crops as compared to others. Activity of natural enemies both on tobacco and trap crops proved another function of trap crops in their use for attracting natural enemies to enhance the natural biological control. The natural enemy population on marigold-mw (with multi-whorl ray florets) was more as compared to all others. The overall grade index was higher in tobacco with rustica tobacco followed by tobacco with marigold-sw, and tobacco with marigold-mw as trap crops.