Mass producation of trichogrmma

Mr. Mahesh Vikram Sable

1. Mass Production of Trichogramma chilonis Prepared by Mr. Mahesh Vikram Sable Assistant Professor Department of Plant Pathology College of Agriculture, Ashti

2. Rice moth i.e. Corcyra cephalonica is used as a laboratory host for the production of natural enemies like Trichogramma , Crytolaemas and Crysoperla

3. Production Procedure of corcyra cephalonica Bold white sorghum grains used for human consumption can be used and it should not treated with insecticides.

4. The required quantity of sorghum is milled to make 3-4 pieces of each grain . Sorghum is heat sterilized in oven at 100 C for 30 minutes Sorghum is sprayed with 0.1 % formalin and air dried to prevent the growth of moulds and decrease the grain humidity.

5. Sorghum is poured @ 2.5 kg / Corcyra box Thoroughly mixed 100 g groundnut karnel extract + 1 g sulphur dust to avoid mite infection.

6. To start with 600 boxes (Each containing 2.5 kg of sorghum / box) are infested with 300 cc of fresh laid Corcyra egg (i.e. 0.5 cc / box) and the lid is secured for about 30days. The 600 boxes is kept in rack and lid closed, on 40 th day moth start emerging and emerging continues for about two months.

7. 10 to 75 moth emerge daily with peak moth emergence being between 65 th and 75 th day. The moth are collected daily and transferred to the specially designed oviposition cages . Moth emergence reduces after 100 days of initial infestation and boxes are reused after cleaning.

8. Provide cotton soaked 20% honey + vitamin E solution as adult food in the egg laying chamber and collect the eggs daily. Moth emergence reduces after 100 days of initial infestation and boxes are reused after cleaning . Egg which pass through 15, 30 and 40 mesh sieve for cleaning and are collected and run over a slope of paper to eliminate dust particles.

9. The egg are treated with UV rays. 15 wt UV tube for 15 minutes at a distances of 2 feet to prevent hatching. Utilize the  Corcyra  eggs for  Trichogramma  production (or) host culture or store them in refrigerator at 10 degree centigrade for 7 days, if required

10. Mass Production of Trichogramma Materials required Corcyra  eggs Nucleus culture of  Trichogramma Polythene bags Rubber bands Scissors Gum Brush Tea strainer Tricho cards 50% honey solution Stapler Refrigerator UV lamp

11. Procedure Clean fresh  Corcyra  eggs by passing through 15, 30 and 45 mesh sieves. Prepare “ Trichocard ” by cutting card board sheet to the size of 10 x10 cm which can accommodate 1 cc of eggs.

12. Apply gum on the card and sprinkle the cleaned eggs uniformly. Remove the excess eggs from the cards by using brush. Allow the card for shade drying for 30 minutes.  Treat the eggs under UV lamp for 30 minutes. Take polythene bag, insert UV treated “ Trichocard ” and nucleus card at the ratio of 6:1 (6  Corcyra  egg cards: 1  Trichogramma  nucleus card) and provide 50% honey vitamin E in a soaked cotton swab.

13. Remove the Tricho cards after 2 days  Corcyra  eggs changes black color on 3rd day indicates the parasitization of eggs. Release the parasitized egg cards immediately in the fields (or) store them in refrigerator at 10 degree centigrade up to 21 days. Place/tie/staple parasitized cards on leaf sheath of plant.

14. THANK YOU