Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture (MJSA)

Cotton, known as the “monarch of fibers” for meeting global textile demands, faces a decline in production due to natural threats like the cotton jassid insect. In Bangladesh, where this insect has caused production losses of 20% to 50%, government support for upland cotton cultivation is challenged. Two experiments at BSMRAU’s entomological field in 2021-2022 aimed to address this issue. The first confirmed the presence of the jassid through molecular analysis, while the second studied how different cotton varieties responded to biopesticides. Three different treatment combinations using different dosages of biorational insecticides on CB-12 and CB-14 cotton varieties were implied to see the interactions for revealing the biopesticidal effects on species cotton cultivars. The study identified the cotton jassid insect by analyzing its mitochondrial DNA, targeting cytochrome oxidase subunit-1 gene. The resulting nucleotide sequences were assigned accession numbers ranging from OR362770 to OR362772. A phylogenetic analysis further confirmed the insect’s identity as the cotton jassid, with strong support indicated by a 94% bootstrap value. This study delves into the impact of various treatments and different cotton plant varieties on chlorophyll and anthocyanin levels in parts of plants infested by the jassid. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated the significant role of two environmentally-friendly insecticides in controlling the cotton jassid across two distinct cotton varieties. Notably, there were significant differences observed in chlorophyll and anthocyanin levels among the treatments and cotton varieties. Variety CB-12 consistently exhibited higher levels of chlorophyll and anthocyanin, suggesting it may possess a greater resilience to pests. These findings underscore the importance of selecting appropriate cotton varieties and employing effective treatment strategies to manage jassid infestations and enhance crop productivity. This research provides valuable insights for the promotion of sustainable cotton cultivation for supporting textile industry in Bangladesh.