Assessment of insecticides and biopesticides against Myzus persicae (Sulzer) on Spinacia oleracea L.
The green peach aphid is one of the most destructive sucking insect pests infesting spinach. Field experiments were conducted at the Vegetable Research Farm, Rahuri, during the Rabi seasons of2020 and 2021 to assess the comparative evaluation of selected insecticides and biopesticides against this pest. Among the treatments evaluated, imidacloprid @ 30 g ai. ha -1 , thiamethoxam @ 25 g ai. ha -1 , dimethoate @ 300 g ai. ha -1 , and azadirachtin 1% @ 2 ml L -1 proved to be the most effective in suppressing green peach aphid populations. The highest spinach yields were recorded in plots treated with imidacloprid (16.11 t ha -1 ), followed by thiamethoxam (15.22 t ha -1 ). Similarly, the maximum incremental cost-benefit ratio was obtained with imidacloprid (1:76.49), followed by thiamethoxam (1:61.91).