Incidence and Infestation Pattern of Insect Pests and Diseases in Red Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) under Semi Controlled Conditions
D. Geetha Priyanka *
School of Agricultural Sciences, Malla Reddy University, Hyderabad, India.
Ch. Shanmukhi
School of Agricultural Sciences, Malla Reddy University, Hyderabad, India.
B. Anitha
School of Agricultural Sciences, Malla Reddy University, Hyderabad, India.
G. Pradeep Kumar
School of Agricultural Sciences, Malla Reddy University, Hyderabad, India.
M. Sri Sai Charan Satya
School of Agricultural Sciences, Malla Reddy University, Hyderabad, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra) is a nutritionally and economically important cole crop; however, its production is constrained by insect pests and soil-borne diseases, particularly under protected cultivation where conducive microclimatic conditions often favour biotic stress development. Sustainable, eco-friendly nutrient management strategies are therefore required to reduce dependency on synthetic pesticides.
Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the incidence and infestation pattern of major insect pests and diseases in red cabbage under different organic nutrient management combinations in a semi-controlled polyhouse system.
Method: The experiment was conducted during the rabi season (October 2025 to February 2026) at the School of Agricultural Sciences, Malla Reddy University, Hyderabad, using a Randomized Block Design with seven treatments and three replications. Treatments consisted of combinations of farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost, neem cake, lignite and microbial consortium, along with an untreated control. Observations on insect pests and diseases were recorded at regular intervals and analysed using standard statistical procedures.
Results: The major insect pests recorded were aphids (Brevicoryne brassicae), leaf-eating caterpillar (Spodoptera litura) and cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), while damping-off and wire stem were the predominant diseases. Aphids showed the highest infestation intensity (25–42 individuals per plant), affecting 20 of 252 plants. The control treatment exhibited the highest pest and disease incidence, whereas treatments incorporating neem cake, particularly T6 and T5, showed comparatively lower infestation levels. Cutworm damage was observed only in the control, and disease incidence was also reduced in organically amended treatments.
Conclusion: Integrated application of organic amendments, especially neem cake combined with FYM, vermicompost, lignite and microbial consortium, effectively suppressed pest and disease incidence through improved soil health and enhanced plant resilience, supporting sustainable red cabbage production under polyhouse conditions.
Keywords: Red cabbage, organic nutrient management, insect pests, soil-borne diseases, polyhouse cultivation