International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC)

Vol: 1, Issue:2, (December Issue), 2015

ISSN: (P) 2395-4335, (O) 2455-2909
IJIRSSC

Earias insulana, Pectinophora gossypiella and Helicoverpa armigera are attacked on cotton
crop and resulted in low productivity [4],[5], [6],[7].
Transgenic Bt cotton have resistance against specific lepidopterous species Arshad et al.
[8]. Due to growing of Bt. cotton in Pakistan, chewing pest of cotton is not a big problem [9].
Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella), one of the mostdamaging pests of cotton and
is susceptible to the toxin expressed in Bt cotton [10], [11].Recently in Sindh, pink bollworm
has become a real threat to conventional and Bt. varieties of cotton. Its attack to fruiting bodies
of cotton ranges from 20-30 per cent. The pest completes its four generations on cotton crop
and the larvae of fifth generation live in the leftover bolls and seed cotton in ginning factories
after final picking in diapausing stage [12].
As it is a threat to conventional and Bt. varieties of cotton in Sindh, Pakistan. To this
purpose, the present study was planned to access Pink bollworm impact on Bt. Cotton. Three
experiments were conducted during the growing seasons of last five years i.e., from 2009 to
2013. The first experiment related to monitoring of pink bollworm population using sex
pheromone traps. The second experiment was conducted to evaluate the Pink bollworm
infestation, survival% of larvae in left over bolls and spatial distribution trend in Sindh andthe
third experiment was to access the Pink bollworm population trend on approved Bt. varieties..

II. Materials and Methods:

Monitoring of Pink bollworm Population using Sex PheromoneTraps
The adult male moth population of main Lepidopterous pest,Pink bollworm of cotton
crop is being monitored since 2009-10 to 2013-14 with installation of sex pheromone traps at
CCRI, Sakrand farm on one hectare.To note the activity of the insects, daily observations were
recorded. Funnel traps were installed in the field throughout the season and lure were changed
every three weeks intervals. The specific sex pheromone traps were used and placed on one
hectare areato monitor the adult population. The metrological observations were taken weekly
and also took the rainfall data of 2009-10 and 2013-14 from Metrology substation at CCRISakrand.
Pink Bollworm infestation and larval survival in left over bolls during 2013-14
The objective of the survey was to note the survival of pink bollworm larvae in the left
over bolls. In Sindh province most of the growers planted Bt. varieties so from left over bolls
mature green bolls were collected from different locations/districts in the month of September
and October during survey of cotton crop in Sindh and the left over bolls brought in the
laboratory for presence of mines and larvae.
Pink bollworm population recorded in approved Bt. varieties
The main aim of the trial survey/observations was to determine the population of pink
bollworm on approved Bt. varieties during the crop season 2013-14 at CCRI-Sakrand farm.
The seven varieties were sown with three replications in Randomized Complete Block
Design.The seven varieties included: Neelum-121, MG-6, NIBGE IR-3701, NIBGE IR-1524,
FH-901, FH-113 and Ali Akbar-802. Total area for this experiment was one acre
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International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC)

Vol: 1, Issue:2, (December Issue), 2015

ISSN: (P) 2395-4335, (O) 2455-2909
IJIRSSC

Approximately 15 bolls were picked from each treatment (100 bolls per acre) and kept in
laboratory for recording the pink bollworm infestation.
Climatic conditions
The meteorological data was recorded at Central Cotton Research Institute Sakrand every
year regularly to maintain the meteorological data. The five years data wascompiled to know
the trend of temperature and their effects on cotton production and infestation of insectpests.

III. Results:
Pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders)
Male moth activity of P. gossypiella started to catch in the traps from Januaryto march
and disappeared from April to July in every year. Again their catches started from Augustto
December. The trap population of moths fluctuated in every year. Highest moth catches
7.67/trap was recorded during the month of October, 2013. The maximum Moth cached in
month of October in all years.
Table 1: Number of Adult pink boll worm moth cached by pheromone traps in last five
years from 2009-10 to 2013-14 at CCRI-Sakrand
Months
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.

Average adult Pink bollworm moth cached in pheromone traps

2009
2010
2011
2012
0.81
0.48
0.55
0.72
0.47
0.52
0.57
0.28
0.27
0.1
0.29
0.23
0.07
0
0.14
0
0
0
0.23
0
0
0
0.07
0
0
0
0
0
0.12
0.48
1.02
0.64
0.48
5.28
2.95
1.98
4.9
3.43
3.99
3.09
2.35
2.88
4.01
5.39
0.78
1.78
2.03
3.52

2013
0.47
0.17
0
0
0
0
0
0.56
3.93
7.67
6.74
2.34

Pink Bollworm infestation and larval survival in left over bolls during 2013-14
The results in Table 2 indicates that maximum number of mines (6.0%) were recorded
from bolls collected from district Umerkot followed by Mirpurkhas (4.5%), Tando Muhammad
khan, Hyderabad (3.75%), Ghotki (3.5%), Khairpur (3.33%) and Shaheed Benazirabad
(2.67%). Similarly highest live larvae% of pink bollworm (3.0%) was noted from bolls

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International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC)

Vol: 1, Issue:2, (December Issue), 2015

ISSN: (P) 2395-4335, (O) 2455-2909
IJIRSSC

collected from Umerkot district and minimum live larvae% (0.71%) from Sukkur district of
Sindh Province.
Table 2: Pink Bollworm infestation and survival% of larval population in left over
bolls of Bt. varieties in Sindh during 2013-14
District

Variety/ No.
of No.
of Pink
Strains Bolls
damaged
bollworm
picked
Bolls
larvae

Mines
%

Pink
bollworm
larvae %

Shaheed
Benazirabad
Nauosharo feroze

Bt.

150

2.67

1.33

Bt.

130

2.31

0.77

Sanghar

Bt.

150

2.67

1.33

Sukkur

Bt.

140

2.14

0.71

Ghotki

Bt.

200

3.5

Khairpur

Bt.

150

3.33

1.33

Hyderabad

Bt.

160

3.75

1.25

Umerkot

Bt.

200

12

Mirpurkhas

Bt.

200

4.5

Badin

Bt.

130

2.31

0.77

Matiyari

Bt.

130

2.31

0.77

Tando M. Khan

Bt.

150

1.33

Pink bollworm population recorded in approved Bt. varieties Trial at CCRI-Sakrand

during 2013-14
The results show (Table 3) that pink bollworm damage% was low on all seven Bt.
varieties, which were cultivated at CCRI-Sakrand farm. The maximum damage was (1.50%)
recorded in NIBGE IR-3701and minimum 0.50% in FH-113. The pink bollworm live larvae
(0.50%) were recorded in NIBGE IR-3701 and no live larvae were recorded on other
Bt.varieties. Overall results shows pink bollworm attack was low on Bt. varieties and small
farmers should cultivate the certified Bt. varieties in Sindh.

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International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC)

Vol: 1, Issue:2, (December Issue), 2015

ISSN: (P) 2395-4335, (O) 2455-2909
IJIRSSC

Table 3: Pink bollworm population recorded on approved Bt. varieties Trial at CCRISakrand during 2013-14
Variety
Neelum-121
MG-6
NIBGE IR-3701
NIBGE IR-1524
FH-901
FH-113
Ali Akbar-802

Pink Bollworm Damage %

Pink bollworm Live larvae%

0.00
0.00
1.50
0.00
0.00
0.50
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.50
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Climatic Conditions in Sindh

The considerable infestation of pink boll worm may depend on higher temperature and
relative humidity during the month of October. The climatic data showed (fig.1, fig.2, fig.3,
fig.4, fig.5,) that mean highest temperature (36.5oC) and mean relative humidity (55%) during
2013 increased the moth population of pink bollworm (Table 1).

Fig. 1: Average temperature (C), relative humidity (%) and rainfall (mm) of Sindh
during 2009

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International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC)

Vol: 1, Issue:2, (December Issue), 2015

ISSN: (P) 2395-4335, (O) 2455-2909
IJIRSSC

Fig. 2: Average temperature (C), relative humidity (%) and rainfall (mm) of Sindh
during 2010

Fig. 3: Average temperature (C), relative humidity (%) and rainfall (mm) of Sindh
during 2011

Fig. 4: Average temperature (C), relative humidity (%) and rainfall (mm) of Sindh
during 2012

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International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC)

Vol: 1, Issue:2, (December Issue), 2015

ISSN: (P) 2395-4335, (O) 2455-2909
IJIRSSC

Fig. 5: Average temperature (C), relative humidity (%) and rainfall (mm) of Sindh
during 2013

IV. Discussion:
Cotton crop in Pakistan has shown a significant increase but growers are concerned on
the attack of pink bollworm in some cotton growing areas. It is fact that Bt. cotton has
resistance to such pest and the climatic conditions of Sindh are also unfavorable for pink
bollworm, the crop was attacked. As of now, field staff of federal and provincial agriculture
department has confirmed pink bollworm in cotton fields in Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Hyderabads
rural areas, Benazirabad and Badin districts of Sindh. In future it needs the proper survey and
testing of Bt. toxin level in cotton varieties to investigate the position of pink boll worm. Male
moth activity of P. gossypiella started to catch in the traps from January to march and
disappeared from April to July in every year. The trap population of moths fluctuated in every
year. Highest moth catches 7.67/trap was recorded during the month of October, 2013. The
maximum Moth cached in month of October in all years. Present results are in agreement with
Shah et al. (2011)[13] who indicated that sex pheromones proved more effective for
monitoring the adult moth of pink bollworm only 26 were caught by pheromones. P.
gossypiella was very attractant to sex pheromones. The population of pink bollworm was
present high infestation occurs in August to September and reached to its peak in September
because of low rain fall in Hala and Saeedabad during both years but the infestation was higher
in 2007 than 2006 because of the less rain in 2007 in comparison to 2006.
The results indicates that maximum number of mines were recorded from bolls collected
from district Umerkot followed by Mirpurkhas, Tando Muhammad khan, Hyderabad, Ghotki,
Khairpur and Shaheed Benazirabad. Similarly highest live larvae% of pink bollworm was
noted from bolls collected from Umerkot district and minimum live larvae% from Sukkur
district of Sindh Province. The same studies were conducted on the pink bollworm infestation
in Punjab province. During a survey conducted to assess the attack of pink bollworm, a large

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International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC)

Vol: 1, Issue:2, (December Issue), 2015

ISSN: (P) 2395-4335, (O) 2455-2909
IJIRSSC

number of bolls of Bt. and non Bt. varieties were found with mines but there was no indication
of pink bollworm larvae CCRIM (2011) [14].
The pink bollworm damage% was low on all seven Bt. varieties, which were cultivated at
CCRI-Sakrand farm. Small farmers should cultivate the certified Bt. varieties in Sindh. Hardee
et al. [15] reported that adoption of Bt. may result in a more efficient enterprise, while
maintaining a high level of insect pest control. In this case if Bt. is adopted it will control the
insects being a resistant variety. However, Pemsl et al. [16] reported that Bt. toxin also protects
the pink bollworm which builds up affect the cotton crop.
The considerable infestation of pink boll worm may depend on higher temperature and
relative humidity during the month of October. The climatic data showed (fig.1, fig.2, fig.3,
fig.4, fig.5,) that mean highest temperature (36.5oC) and mean relative humidity (55%) during
2013 increased the moth population of pink bollworm (Table 1). Present results are in the line
of the findings of Chaudhary [17] reported that maximum population of Pink bollworm
observed during October, when the temperature ranges 25.0-35.0 oC and relative humidity
ranges from 45.0-55.0% and there was no rain fall. While in 2009 relative humidity was high
but mean maximum and minimum temperature was low that supported the population in
Pakistan due to sudden change in climatic conditions in the month of October was low and
infestation of pink bollworm observed less. However, rise in temperature and humidity
increased the problem of pink bollworm. Jha and Bisen [18] recorded that seasonal incidence
of pink bollworm was largely influenced by the weather factors.

V. Conclusion:
Pakistan has adopted transgenic cotton (Bollguard II) over the area of about 86%.
The pink bollworm moth population cached less numbers in pheromone traps at CCRISakrand
farm.
The Pink bollworm infestation was negligible on NIBGE IR-1524 Bt. variety; other Bt.
varieties were free from infestation.
Pink boll worm infestation and larvae survival% in left over bolls were less which was
collected from Bt. Varieties sown at grower fields of different districts of Sindh.
The pink bollworm infestation was recorded during survey on cotton of Nara Belt areas. Which
was due to sown of own old cotton seed and un-approved/certified from local dealers.

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International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC)

Vol: 1, Issue:2, (December Issue), 2015

ISSN: (P) 2395-4335, (O) 2455-2909
IJIRSSC

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Vol: 1, Issue:2, (December Issue), 2015

ISSN: (P) 2395-4335, (O) 2455-2909
IJIRSSC

[13] Shah, M.A., Memon N.,Baloch. A.A. 2011. Use of sex pheromones and light traps for
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