Aphids Biology and Control

Army worm, aphid attack: experts warn cotton growers

Friday, July 19, 2013

Punjab Agriculture Department has warned the growers on Thursday that chances of attack of army worm and aphid on cotton crop have increased due to recent rains. Agricultural experts said that growers can save their crops from damages from these insects by developing their skills to recognise these and knowing the preventive and eradication steps. Experts also suggest that growers should spray recommended pesticides when attack of these pests reach economic threshold. A spokesman of the provincial agriculture department said that the experts have also recommended to make spray with intervals to eradicate weeds from the water courses.

Source: Business Recorder

Aphids Biology and Control

Quick Facts...

• Aphids are found on almost all types of plants and a few species can cause plant injury.
• Some aphid species can curl the new leaves of some types of plant.
• Feeding aphids excrete honeydew, a sticky fluid that can cause nuisance problems.
• Natural enemies of aphids include lady beetles, flower fly larvae, lacewing larvae, and parasitic wasps.
• Exposed aphids can be controlled by insecticides, insecticidal soaps and sometimes with a strong jet of water.

By: W.S. Cranshaw

Aphids are the most common insects found on trees, shrubs, and garden ornamental plants. Over 350 different aphid species occur in the state but most can feed on only a few species of plants. However, with so many kinds of aphids, few plants grown in Colorado do not support at least one aphid. Most species rarely injure plants or even attract attention, but a few aphid species do cause problems (Table 1).

Figure 1: Adult aphids — winged and wingless.

Aphids feed by sucking sap from plants. When the number of aphids on a plant are very high for an extended period, their feeding can cause wilting and sometimes even dieback of shoots and buds. Some aphids can cause leaf curling when the insect infests emerging leaves.

Sometimes problems with aphids do not primarily involve plant injury but instead their production of sticky honeydew. Honeydew is the waste material excreted by aphids and certain other phloem-sucking insects (e.g., soft scales, whiteflies, some leafhoppers). It may cover leaves, branches, sidewalks and anything that lies beneath a infested plant material.

Figure 2: Black cherry aphid colony.

Gray sooty mold grows on the honeydew, further detracting from plant appearance. Ants, yellowjacket wasps, flies, and bees are usually attracted to plants that are covered with honeydew.

Table 1: Some common aphids associated with trees, shrubs and ornamentals in Colorado. Those marked with an * commonly cause leaf curling distortions in new growth.

Scientific name (Common name)	Host plant
Acyrthosiphum pisum (Pea aphid)	Sweet pea, other legumes
Aphis helianthi (Sunflower aphid)	Red twig dogwood, many flowering plants in summer
Aphis nerii (Yellow milkweed aphid)	Milkweeds (Asclepias)
Aphis spiraecola (Spirea aphid)	Spirea
Aphis viburnicola (Snowball aphid)	Snowball viburnum
Brachycaudus helichrysi (Leafcurl plum aphid)	Plum
Caveriella aegopodii (Willow-carrot aphid)	European willows
Chaitophorus populicola	Populus
Chaitophorus populifolii	Populus
Chaitophorus viminalis	Willow
Cindara spp. (Giant conifer aphids)	Pines, juniper, spruce
Cryptomyzus ribis (Currant aphid)	Currant
Dysaphis plantaginea (Rosy apple aphid)	Apple
Dysaphis tulipae (Tulip bulb aphid)	Dutch iris, tulip
Eriosoma lanigerum (Woolly apple aphid)	Elm, apple, crabapple
Eriosoma amiercanum (Woolly elm aphid)	Elm, amelanchier
Essigella spp.	Pines
Eulachnus spp.	Pines
Hyadaphis tataricae (honeysuckle witches’ broom aphid)	Tatarian honeysuckle
Hyalopterus pruni (Mealy plum aphid)	Prunus
Macrosiphum rosae (Rose aphid)	Rose
Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Potato aphid)	Rose, many flowers
Macrosiphum albifrons (Lupine aphid)	Lupine
Monellia caryae (American walnut aphid)	Walnut
Myzocallis tiliae (Linden aphid)	Linden
Myzocallis alhambra (Western dusky-winged oak aphid)	Bur oak
Myzocallis ulmifolii (Elm leaf aphid)	Elm
Myzus ceraki (Black cherry aphid)	Tart Cherry
Myzus persicae (Green peach aphid)	Peach, apricot, other Prunus
Nasonovia aquilegiae (Columbine aphid)	Columbine
Nearctaphis bakeri (Shortbeaked clover aphid)	Hawthorn
Periphyllus lyropictus (Norway maple aphid)	Norway maple
Prociphilus franxinifolii (Leafcurl ash aphid)	Green ash
Pterocomma bicolor	Populus
Pterocomma smithiae (Black willow aphid)	Willow
Rhopalosiphum cerasifoliae (Chokecherry aphid)	Chokecherry, pin cherry
Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae (Water lily aphid)	Prunus, various aquatic plants
Tuberolachnus salignus (Giant willow aphid)	Willow
Uroleucon sp.	Many flowers

Life History and Habits

Aphids are small insects and few exceed 1/8-inch when full grown. They tend to have an oval body form and a pair of pipe-like cornicles usually can be seen protruding from the back of the body. Colors are widely variable among the different aphid species - ranging from very pale yellow to dark, nearly black. Most have shades of green or orange and a few species are even bright red. Upon close inspection, many aphids can be seen to have intricate body patterning.

Some aphids obscure their body by covering themselves with waxy threads. These are known as “woolly aphids.” Woolly aphids are most commonly seen associated with pines or other conifers, lining the needles. However, the woolly apple aphid is a common woolly aphid that clusters on the limbs of apples and crabapples. Aphids that cluster within leaves that curl, such as the leafcurl ash aphid, are wax covered as are most aphids that live on plant roots.

Figure 3: Giant conifer aphids on juniper.	Figure 4: Leafcurl plum aphid injury.	Figure 5: Leafcurling produced by green peach aphid.

Colonies of aphids often consist of a mixture of winged and wingless forms. The great majority of aphids usually develop into the wingless form to remain and reproduce on the plant. More winged forms tend to be produced when colonies get overcrowded, plants decline in quality, or environmental cues favor dispersal to new plants.

Essentially all aphids, regardless of their form, are females. Males, if they do occur, are present in late summer during only one of the many generations that are produced during a growing season. The normal habit of aphids is for a female to give live birth to a genetically identical daughter aphid through asexual reproduction (parthenogenesis). The newly born aphid can develop rapidly, typically becoming full-grown in about 10 to14 days. Adults usually can produce three to five young per day over the course of their lifetime, which may extend to about a month but is usually shortened by natural enemy activities.

There is a shift in the life cycle of aphids to handle the challenge of winter, when plants are not active and cold temperatures would be lethal. At the

Figure 6: Spirea aphid colony.

Figure 7: Overwintering eggs of rose aphid.

Figure 8: Pea aphid colony with a syrphid fly larvae (lower left).

end of the summer, different forms of aphids are produced, including special sexual form males and females. After mating, a special egg-producing aphid is produced that lays egg in protected crevices, often around buds. This egg is the stage that the aphid normally survives winter during outdoor conditions in Colorado. Eggs hatch the following spring, shortly after bud break, and the normal life cycle resumes.

Some aphids have even more complicated life cycles that involve alternating among host plants. With these species, eggs are laid on a tree or shrub.

Table 2: Some common Colorado aphids that alternate between woody and herbaceous hosts.

Aphid	Overwintering Host	Summer host
Black cherry aphid	Woolly elm aphid	Wild mustards
Currant aphid	Currant	Wild mustards
Green peach aphid	Peach, plum, apricot	Peppers, cabbage, potato, many garden plants
Leafcurl plum aphid	Plum	Various aster-family plants, clover, vinca, thistle
Mealy plum aphid	Plum	Cattail, reeds
Potato aphid	Rose	Potatoes, tomatoes and many other garden plants
Rosy apple aphid	Apple, pear, mountain-ash	Plantain
Shortbeaked clover aphid	Hawthorn	Legumes
Sunflower aphid	Dogwood	Sunflower, yucca, parsley, cilanto, pigweed, many other herbacceous plants
Water lily aphid	Plum, other Prunus	Water lily and many other aquatic plants
Willow-carrot aphid	Willow	Carrot, parsley, dill
Woolly elm aphid	American elm	Amelanchier (roots)

The best known natural enemies are lady beetles, with lady beetle larvae being particularly voracious predators of aphids. Other common aphid predators include the larvae of green lacewings and flower (syrphid) flies.

Management

Natural Enemies

Figure 9: Winged aphids giving birth on aspen stem.

Aphids are quite defenseless and there are numerous insects that feed on them (Fact sheet 5.550, Beneficial Insects and Other Arthropods). The best known of these natural enemies are lady beetles, with lady beetle larvae being particularly voracious predators of aphids. Other common aphid predators include the larvae of green lacewings and flower (syrphid) flies.

Several species of minute stingless wasps parasitize aphids. These wasps insert their eggs into the body of the aphid and the larvae consume it internally. Aphids that have been killed by parasitic wasps have a conspicuous appearance, turning light brown or black and becoming bloated. Aphids killed by parasitic wasps are known as “aphid mummies.”

Table 3: Insecticides for control of aphids on shade trees and ornamentals.

_______________________________________________________________

Contact Insecticides without Residual Activity

insectical soaps-- pyrethrins

Contact Insecticides with Residual Activity

acephate-- bifenthrin-- beta-cyfluthrin
estenvalerate-- permethrin--lambda-cyhalothrin

Systemic Insecticides

acephate-- imidacloprid-- dinotefuran

________________________________________________________________

Physical and Cultural Controls

On shrubs and garden plants, aphids can sometimes be managed by simply washing them off of plants with a forceful jet of water. Hosing plants can lethally injure aphids and very few surviving aphids that are knocked to the ground can successfully find their way back onto their host plant.

Some flowers that are perennial, but dieback to the ground in fall, have problems with aphids in the spring. Columbine, lupines and perennial asters are examples. With these plants the eggs of the aphids are laid on the stems in fall, near the point where new shoots will emerge the following spring. Spring problems with these aphids can be prevented by removing the old top growth that contains the eggs before plants emerge in spring.

Figure 10: Tulip bulb aphids. (Parasitic mummy is lower left.)

Chemical Controls

Insecticides are a useful means for controlling aphids when natural enemies are not sufficient (Table 3). Some insecticides act by contact action and these must contact the body of the aphid to work. This includes insecticidal soaps (Fact sheet 5.547, Insect Control: Soaps and Detergents), a popular option for aphid control but one that requires sprays to cover the aphid during application. Other insecticides have some persistence on the foliage and may be able to kill aphids for a day or two if they contact the aphid. Contact insecticides can be effective against exposed aphids but are ineffective against species that develop within the protection of leaf curls.

A few insecticides have the ability to move within a plant, spreading in the sap. These are known as systemic insecticides and they can control aphids that occur within leaf curls. Some formulations of systemic insecticides are designed to be applied as sprays and these are absorbed by leaves and then move in the plant. Others can be applied to the soil where they are taken up by the roots and translocate to leaves, particularly young leaves.

Figure 11. Wooly apple aphid colony on crabapple twig.

Horticultural oils (Fact sheet 5.569, Insect Control: Horticultural Oils) have a special place in aphid control. These act largely by smothering insects and are particularly effective for control of aphids that spend the winter as eggs on the tree or shrub, then curl leaves the following spring. They are most widely used for aphid control on stone fruits (Prunus spp.), such as peach, apricot, and plum. Horticultural oils are applied before bud break, during the dormant season.

 Source:http://www.ext.colostate.edu

How to Get Rid of Aphids

By Colleen Vanderlinden

Insect Name:

Aphids, also known as plant lice.

Description:

Aphids are roughly 1/10th of an inch long. The most common colors are green and black, though brown, reddish-brown, and gray aphids inhabit some parts of the country. They have two long, tubular appendages on the tail end of their body.

Life Cycle:

Aphid eggs overwinter attached to plants, then hatch as nymphs in the spring. These nymphs produce eggs asexually, and produce more nymphs, who grow to maturity in one week. In the fall, nymphs will lay eggs that contain some male aphids, who will mate with the nymphs to produce the eggs that will overwinter and start the next generation of aphids. Mature aphids lay three to six eggs per day.

Signs of Aphid Infestation:

Aphids suck the sap out of tender plant shoots and leaves. They suck the sap in through their beak-like mouths, while injecting leaves with their saliva. Drinking the sap can weaken the plant, and injecting their saliva can spread diseases from plant to plant. In addition, aphids excrete a sticky, clear substance called "honey dew" which commonly develops sooty mold. Sooty mold is unsightly and interferes with the plant's ability to photosynthesize.

Effect on Garden Plants:

Aphids can weaken a plant, stunt its growth, cause leaves to curl or wilt, and delay fruit or flower production.

Organic Controls for Aphids:

Sometimes, a strong blast of water from the hose will knock the aphids off of a plant and solve the problem. If you attract or purchase certain beneficials, such as lady bugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps, or damsel bugs, they will attack the aphids. Plants can also be sprayed with insecticidal soap, or a homemade tomato leaf or garlic spray to kill and repel aphids.

Homemade Organic Aphid Spray

By: Mary Lusk

Aphids are pesky little critters who usually top a gardener's list of "most hated" insect pests. The tiny pearly green or milky white insects are almost impossible to avoid. They love just about all vegetables and ornamentals. Apple trees, roses and beans are especially susceptible to aphid attack, and symptoms of aphid infestation include curled leaves, deformed fruit and honeydew secretions on the plant. Fortunately, aphids can be controlled well with several cultural practices, and chemical controls are seldom necessary.

Aphids      Copyright http://www.agrinfobank.com

Identifying Aphids

Once aphids are noticed, act quickly. They don't waste any time multiplying. If left unchecked, they can suck nutrients from plants and spread deadly plant viruses such as mosaic virus.

Natural Solutions

First, spray the plant with a stream of water to wash the aphids off. Then allow the plant to dry and begin a treatment. A very effective control for aphids is a simple soap spray. Mix 4 ounces (about 3 tablespoons) dishwashing liquid to one gallon of water. Spray the plant, being sure to get under the leaves as well as on the leaf surfaces. The soap spray fades away quickly, so you will need to repeat spraying often.

Soap sprays usually result in aphid death in about an hour. After an hour, you can wash the plant with pure water if desired. Washing with water is most desirable with melons, cucumbers and African violets, which can suffer leaf burn if the soap spray stays on too long.

Got too many hot peppers coming in? Hot pepper sprays are also an effective aphid control. Garlic also works. An easy anti-aphid cocktail combines 3 to 4 hot peppers, a few cloves of garlic and 1 quart of water. Mix it all in the blender, then spray on plants.

Another good cultural practice for aphid control is interplanting your ornamentals with basil. Aphids are repelled by the smell of the basil. Also, plant angelica and morning glory to attract ladybugs, a natural predator of aphids. Ladybugs can be purchased in some garden supply stores or through organic gardening retailers. Start with about 100 ladybugs per 1,000 square feet of garden space. Release them in the evening so they can have dew to drink.

The first defense against aphids is to maintain your own presence in the garden. Check daily for signs of their moving in. Aphids are tiny with pear-shaped bodies and two antennae from their forehead. Often, they are accompanied by ants, which like to feed on the honeydew that aphids secrete. You may notice the ants before you notice the aphids. Look under the leaves especially.

Source of Article: http://wzus1.life123.com/

Aphids--Organic Control

Aphids are soft, pear-shaped, and very tiny (1/16 to 3/8 inch long). Two short tubes project backward from the tip of their abdomen. Aphids have long antennae. Some types of aphids have wings, which are transparent, longer than their body, and held like a roof over their back. Aphids may be green, pink, yellowish, black, or powdery gray. Nymphs resemble adults but are smaller and wingless.

Aphid

Host/Range

Aphids feed on most fruit and vegetable plants, flowers, ornamentals, and shade trees. You'll find aphids throughout North America.

Their life cycle

Aphids reproduce like there's no tomorrow. Female aphids can reproduce without mating, giving birth continuously to live nymphs. Nymphs mature in 1 to 2 weeks and start producing offspring themselves.

When days become shorter in the fall, both males and females are born. They mate, and then females lay eggs on stems or in bark crevices. The eggs overwinter and hatch the following spring. In very mild climates and in greenhouses, aphids may reproduce year-round.

Damage

Both adults and nymphs suck plant sap, which usually causes distorted leaves, buds, branch tips, and flowers. Severely infested leaves and flowers may drop. As they feed, aphids excrete a sweet, sticky honeydew onto the leaves below. This allows a sooty mold to grow, which, in addition to being ugly to look at, blocks light from leaves. Also, some aphids spread viruses as they feed.

Organic damage control

• Drench plants with strong sprays of water from a garden hose to kill aphids. (A hard, driving rainstorm will have the same effect.)
• Keep your plants as healthy as possible, and spray dormant oil to control overwintering eggs on fruit trees.
• Control ants that guard aphid colonies in trees from predators by placing sticky bands around the trunks.
• Spray aphids with insecticidal soap, summer oil (on tolerant plants), and homemade garlic sprays.

Source of Article: http://www.organicgardening.com/

Aphid Parasitoids From Punjab Province Of Pakistan

Aphid parasitoids are important bio-control agents, being used in aphid pest management in the field as well as in greenhouses worldwide. Over 400 species of parasitoids are described worldwide and most of them are being used as a basis of integrated pest management (IPM).

In Pakistan, only 30 species of aphid parasitoids were reported; out of those 11 species were recorded from Potohar region of Punjab Province of Pakistan.Keeping in view this low level of basic research on these important insects, mummified aphids, adult parasitoids and hyperparasitoids were collected from various localities of Punjab during 2005-08.A total of 10827 parasitoid individuals were collected consisting of 30 species in 8 genera belonging to subfamily Aphidiinae along with 58 new trophic associations and 184 new locality records. Nine species namely: Aphidius gifuensis, Aphidius hortensis, Aphidius hieraciorum, Aphidius phalangomyzi, Aphidius salicis, Aphidius sonchi, Binodoxys basicurvus, Binodoxys rubicula and Binodoxys angelicae are recorded for the first time from Pakistan.A species, Trioxys aridunivercena sp. nov. is described as a new to science record. In addition, a total of 1257 hyperparasitoid individuals were collected consisting of 6 species in 6 genera from 3 subfamilies along with 19 new trophic associations and 51 new locality records. One species, namely Alloxysta carinata is a new record for Pakistan. Host plants and primary parasites of A. carinata are new scientific records. Two species, Phaenoglyphis punjabensis sp. nov. and Dendrocerus rawalena sp. nov. are new scientific records.
Identification keys for all recorded species have been prepared.Species are illustrated by their valid names, synonyms, measurement of various body parts, tritrophic association, comparison of characters from published descriptions for new records to country and comprehensive characters description for new science specimens has also been provided. The known distribution of all the species is also updated.A map is provided for the distribution of each of them. Biology of most common and voracious parasitoids is given. As Diaeretiella rapae is the most common parasitoid so its general biology including study of various life stages along with some biological parameters like copulation time, pre-mating time, oviposition time and adult longevity have been given.Biological parameters like mummy colouration, position and shape of emergence hole of parasitoids and hyperparasitoids have been given for two aphid species namely,Aphis gossypii and Aphis fabae.Sex ratio of field collected populations of the parasitoid species like Diaeretiella rapae, Aphidius transcaspicus, Aphidius uzbikistanicus, Aphidius avenae, Aphidius smithi and Binodoxys anglicae emerged from the mummies f various species of aphids have been determined and was found female biased.Sex ratio of all recorded parasitoids and hyperparasitoids species are calculated and found to be female biased. A list of trophic associations of host plants, aphids, parasitoids and hyperparasitiods has been provided. Presence and absence of various aphid parasitoids and hyperparasitoids in various localities of Punjab is also tabulated for future reference.

Reference: Bodlah, Imran (2011) "Biosystematics of Aphid Parasitoids from Punjab Province in Pakistan". PhD thesis, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpind

BAP to control Wheat Aphid…. A strategy made through PARB’s project

By: Maryam Naseer

Agriculture, industry and commerce are pillars of the economy of every country and provide a strong base for development. If we talk about Pakistan, here, agriculture is the only pillar that can boost the dwindling economy and can play a vital role for its development. Many people are associated with agriculture as the main earning source of income and live hood.

Wheat is important crop of Pakistan in terms of earning major foreign exchange and food for people. Wheat is grown at about 8.41 million hectare in Pakistan, out of which 6.27 million hectare (74%) falls in Punjab province (MINFAL). Its yield as well as production experienced substantial fluctuations during some years due to climatic changes. Among others, natural population of predators and parasitoids fail to manage aphid population to acceptable limits. Since independence, pest management techniques other than pesticide spray, such as development of resistant varieties and dependence on natural enemies of pests were successfully utilized against various pests of wheat on sustainable basis. Up to 90’s there was a good natural equilibrium between aphid population and its natural enemies. However, during recent past, this natural balance seems to be disturbed by extensive and indiscriminate use of non -selective pesticides on various crops. The wheat aphid attack as compiled by DG Pest Warning reveals that initially it was seen only in 10 districts till 2002, which increased up to 35 districts from 2004 to onwards.Wheat aphid is also becoming a potential threat as it started feeding on milky grain stage of crop when it’s not advisable to spray non selective pesticides on a large scale as a sole agent for its management. Therefore, we need scientific research to resolve the issue on permanent basis.

If we look at history, the Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) was recorded for the first time during 1967 in Multan. But we did not take it seriously till it started economic damage in 1988 and until now, we are not succeeded to control this virus, resultantly losing billions rupees bales annually.  Similarly cotton mealy bug was recorded in Umar kot (Sindh) during 1980 but we did not try to study its lifecycle, weak links, parasites and predators till 2005 when it caused economic damage to our cotton crop. So far, we have not been able to find its proper control. So we need to adopt proactive approach and must be ready with control strategy before any organism poses serious threat to our agriculture.  In fact, we need to remain ahead of pests rather than following them. We need to learn lesson from our past experience where we ignored proactive research approach against hidden potential threat.

Wheat aphid is such other emerging problem and few progressive farmers already started pesticides spray for its control and spray area is continuously increasing every year (agri. Extension workers). The situation will further deteriorate if some timely, effective and safe management strategy other than sole dependence on pesticide spray will not be developed for aphid control. Furthermore, as mentioned above, wheat is sown on a very large area and as such it is neither feasible nor economical to manage pests on it through spray.  Therefore we need to develop a package of Best Agricultural Practices (BAP) including agronomic and bio control agents to tackle the problem on sustainable basis before it becomes epidemic.We also need to develop the loss of pesticides comparatively safe for bio agent and environment but effective against wheat aphid as a second defense to handle the situation if primary defense fails.

Luckily aphid species attacking Saron( Brassicanapus) are different from that attacking wheat crop, whereas natural enemies of both groups are the same. Furthermore, aphid appears on Brassica much earlier than on wheat crop. This phenomenon may be exploited fully by intercropping Brassica in wheat crop which will help to develop reservoir of natural enemies of wheat aphid before the appearance of aphid attack on wheat crop. Consequently, this reservoir may play an important role in aphid management on wheat crop. The preliminary data on intercropping of Brassica napus in wheat crop by Directorate Entomological Research Institute Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) Faisalabad, confirmed the aforementioned hypothesis to some extent.

Wheat aphid can damage crop by making the leave yellow, weak and affect the quality and production of crop. Aphid also spread various viral diseases, although not witnessed in Punjab but Peshawar has observed some viral diseases. Among all aphid types, four are prominent in Punjab province, including, Green Bug, Corn Leaf Aphid, Bird Cheery Oat aphid and English grain aphid whereas predators and parasitoids are environment friendly.

Wheat is an important crop and farmers should avoid spray of pesticides. In order to resolve this issue Centre for Applied Biosciences International (CABI) with the financial funding of Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB) started to work on a project “Integrated Pest Management of Aphid in wheat crop” since July 2009. The other collaborative institutes in the project were Adaptive Research Farm (Bhun, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Shekhpura and Vehari) and Wheat Research Institute Faisalabad. The project manager is Dr. Rana Muhammad Shafiq .

Development of Best Agricultural Practices (BAP) for management of Aphid attack on wheat has been completed. After analyzing results of studies the following BAP has been finalized for demonstration phase

·         Timely sowing of wheat crop up to 20^th November

·         Apply balanced fertilizers i.e N:P:k @ 69:46:25

·         Improved Brassica/canola intercropping in wheat by the following two methods

1.      Three lines of Brassica intercropped after every 100ft (4 kanals) distance

2.      A compact block of one kanal Brassica intercropped after every 400 ft (2 acres ) distance

If the aphid populations explode due to favorable environmental conditions, the insecticides, found to be safe for natural enemies, such as imidacloprid and pymetrozine can be used to control aphids effectively.

Selection of 10 sites for sowing of wheat to demonstrate BAP has been identified and completed in six districts of Punjab including, Attock, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Gujranwala, Khanewal and Bahawalpur. A total of 13 farmer’sday was arranged against a target of 10 in all districts of Punjab to create awareness among farmers and agriculture extension workers about BAP. Almost 50-60 farmers participate in the event. Besides this, 5000 brochures containing BAP information has been prepared and distributed among participants.

The project is just going to be finished with encouraging results for the safety of wheat crop. Research is only a single way to combat challenges and problems related to agriculture and other sectors. This project was a mutual work of a team of scientists, PARB’s monitoring and the support of Chief Executive PARB Dr. Mubarik Ali. PARB has funded 53 output oriented research projects in crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries sector under the Chairmanship of Minister for Agriculture Punjab Malik Ahmed Ali Aulkah. These all projects will be helpful in boosting our agriculture sector and it is hoped that Punjab government will fund more project from PARB’s platform in future so that the emerging problems can get resolve on urgent basis.

Agriculture is our main sector to make us a developed nation and bring huge foreign exchange for Pakistan. But we have to pay attention to secure this sector by solving the problemsotherwise many cash crops will suffer from low productivity, viral diseases and other potential threats.

Maryam Naseer (Author)

About Author:

Maryam Nasser Currently Work as Research Publication Officer at Punjab Agriculture Research Board (PARB), Contact: 042-37232744 ext. 616, Email: rpo@parb.gop.pk