Two commonly used insecticides, Methamidophos 60SL @ 1000ml/ha and Monocrotophos 40WSC @ 1500 ml/ha were evaluated on Amrasca devastans L. during 1999 on Pusa Swani, Parbhani Kranti, Sabz Pari and Karishma okra varieties. Both insecticides provided effective control of Jassid and kept the population below economic threshold level up to ten days after insecticidal application. However, Methamidophos 60SL proved better on Pusa Swani as compared to Monocrotophos 40WSC, which decreased jassid population on Parbhani Kranti, Sabz Pari and Karishma, respectively.

To ascertain the prevalence and distribution of four major pepper viruses viz. chili veinal mottle potyvirus (CVMV), cucumber mosaic cucmovirus (CMV), tobacco mosaic tobamovirus (TMV) & potato virus Y (PVY). Surveys of chili crop in three major provinces of Pakistan were conducted during 1996-98. At each location 3-5 farmer`s fields were inspected and samples showing virus-like symptoms were collected. A total of 500 samples (200 Punjab, 200 Sindh and 100 NWFP) were collected and tested through direct double antibody sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (DAS-ELISA). CVMV & CMV appeared as the most prevalent viruses in almost all the surveyed areas. In Sindh, the incidence of CVMV, CMV, TMV, and PVY was 9, 16, 5 and 3.5%, respectively. In Punjab, CVMV appeared as the most important virus (63%) infecting pepper crop in all districts followed by CMV (20%). Co-infection of CVMV and CMV (10%) was recorded in Faisalabad, Multan and Darya Khan. In most CMV positive samples, TMV or CVMV or PVY were also detected (co-infection). In NWFP, CVMV incidence was 50% followed by CMV (17.8%). On the average, survey data showed that CVMV (40.6% incidence) is still the most prevalent virus infecting pepper followed by CMV (17.8%) in these three provinces. PVY was only detected in Sindh (3.5%) and NWFP (6%). TMV was not detected in any place of NWFP and Punjab, but detected in mixed infection in Sindh (5%). Thus there is 19.6% increase in CVMV incidence while frequency of other three viruses remained the same as compared to previous reports.

An attempt was made to investigate host-vector relationship of Banana Bunchy Top Disease. The affinity of different host plants was investigated via black banana aphid (Penlalonia nigronervosai for the transmission of BBTV to Canna (Canna indica), Cucumber (Cucumis sativus), Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun), Chenopodium (Chenopodium amranticotor) and Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). The host plants, at 3-4 leaf stage were exposed to viruliferous P. nigronervosa for 24 hours. Similarly four different insect-vectors viz. Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae, fiophalosiphum padj and BemisSa tsbaci, beside P. nigronervosa were tried for transmission studies under controlled conditions. The vectors were allowed inoculation access period of 24 hours following an acquisition-feeding period of 8-10 days in separate cages on healthy banana. None of the vectors except P. nigronervosa was found to transmit BBTV to banana. Likewise P. nigronervosa was also found restricted to its original host banana for propagation and BBTV transmission.

Contribution of different factors responsible for the increase of Maize production viz: weeds control, insect/pest control and fertilizer were determined in Kharif, 1996 and 1 997 under the agro-climatic conditions of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. The investigations measured the average maximum yield gap between the improved practices and that of farmer`s practices as 2443 kg/ha, showing an increase of 193.88 % over that of farmer`s practices. The highest share contributed by improved fertilizer dose, was 38.48 %; followed by insect/pest control, that was 26 %. The lowest share was contributed by weeds control, 22 %. The highest net return and Value Cost Ratio (VCR) of Rs. 3974.65 and (1:2.2) respectively, were found for fertilizer. The minimum net return of Rs. 1 576.20 with VCR (1:1.47) was obtained for insect/pest control.

An experiment on the effect of different planting dates and spacing on the growth and yield of garlic cv. Bianco was carried out at Malakandher Research Farm, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar during the year 1995-96. Four different plant spacing i.e. 4 cm, 8 cm, 12 cm and 16 cm were kept at four different planting dates i.e 1st. November, 15th November, 30th November and 15th December. The data revealed that both planting dates and spacing significantly affected the number of days to emergence, number of days to maturity, plant height, number of leaves/plant, number of cloves/bulb, bulb size, bulb weight and yield (Kg/ha) Maximum plant height (87.66 cm), number of leaves (8.10), number of cloves/bulb (34.46) bulb size (19.71 cm), bulb weight (44.80 g) and total yield (14166.66 kg/ha) were recorded in plants that were sown on 1st. November with plant spacing of 8 cm, while minimum values were recorded for the mentioned parameters in plots sown on 15th December with plant spacing of 4 cm. Maximum number of days to emergence (12.66) and maturity (198.0) were found in plants sown on 15th December with plant spacing of 4 cm. It is suggested that garlic should be sown before the mid of November with plant spacing of 8 cm under the agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar.