Vol. 9, Special Issue 1, Part A (2025)

Okra or bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench is an important nutritious vegetable grown in tropical and sub tropical countries of the world. The production of okra is challenged by the infestation of two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae. A study was conducted to assess the effect of various organic and inorganic fertilizers, jasmonic acid, bio control agent Pseudomonas fluorescens and acaricide on population of T. urticae on the moderately resistant okra hybrid COBhH 1. TNAU RDF with propargite 2 ml/lit was highly effective and registered the highest per cent reduction of mites (90.45). Of the treatments with jasmonic acid, organic amendments with jasmonic acid registered a population reduction of 78.65 per cent and with a fruit yield of 368.33 g/plant. The effect of these treatments on the population of predatory mites revealed reduction in predatory mite population in TNAU RDF + propargite 2 ml/litre, while the other treatments showed improvement in their population. Jasmonic acid and the octadecanoid pathway are involved in induction of both direct and indirect plant responses to herbivore feeding damage. Foliar jasmonic acid application increased levels of polyphenol oxidase, an oxidative enzyme implicated in resistance against several insect herbivores. Elicitors such as jasmonic acid may be valuable pest management tools, especially when there are high densities of herbivores that can reduce yield.