ABSTRACT
Insect pest management in cotton has emerged as a tough challenge in recent times. The problem has become more acute on account of the development of insect resistance to insecticides. As a result, 'insecticide resistance management' (IRM) has assumed significant importance for successful pest management programs. Based on extensive field experimentation, several strategies have been proposed for insecticide resistance management. Most of the programs are amalgamations of the available options, and there is greater emphasis on the use of biological control components in crops where it has become difficult to control Helicoverpa armigera (Hiib.). Such programs have also been found to be successful at the village level under scientific supervision and assured supply of biological inputs. Several reports suggest that good crop yields could also be obtained with the use of only insecticides or biocontrol agents, or a combination of both. Total cotton crop failures have occurred at several locations despite the use of insecticides, biocontrol agents, or a combination of both. Despite several reports of successful demonstration of integrated pest management (IPM), control of H. armigera still remains a mirage, when one looks at the magnitude of ever increasing yield losses year after year. For sustainable cotton IPM, it is imperative that an objective assessment of insecticide resistance needs to be made to develop robust IPM packages.
