Saxena et al., Biological Forum – An International Journal 15(10): 1289-1293(2023) 1289 ISSN No. (Print): 0975-1130 ISSN No. (Online): 2249-3239 Effect of Seed Treatment on Sorghum Yield, Germination and Oviposition of Atherigona soccata Rondani Sakshi Saxena 1 *, A.K. Badaya 2 , Shivani Suman 1 , Kanchan Baghla 3 , Nishikant Yadav 1 and Sitaram Seervi 3 1 Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Indore, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), India. 2 Principal Scientist, RVSKVV- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dewas (Madhya Pradesh), India. 3 Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Gwalior, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), India. (Corresponding author: Sakshi Saxena*) (Received: 25 August 2023; Revised: 28 September 2023; Accepted: 06 October 2023; Published: 15 October 2023) (Published by Research Trend) ABSTRACT: The present investigation aims to examine the effectiveness of a few recently introduced systemic insecticide as seed dressers and their combined effect against the sorghum shoot fly. A field study carried out in three replications using a Randomized Block Design at the College of Agriculture's Sorghum Research Field in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, during the 2019–20 Kharif season. The sorghum variety CSV 15 was examined for Atherigona soccata oviposition, yield, and germination using six seed dressing chemicals, soil treatment of carbofuran 3G, and an untreated control. The highest germination rate (94.93%), maximum grain yield (23.67q-ha -1 ), and most avoidable loss (64.93%) were observed by the seed treatment with Thiamethoxam + Cyantraniliprole. Seed treated with Thiamethoxam 30 FS, Fipronil 5 SC and Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SC also recorded better germination and yield compare to control. The oviposition of shoot fly recorded (5.74 egg/plant) highest in treatment Thiamethoxam + Cyantraniliprole and lowest (3.77) in soil application of Carbofuran 3G as compare to control due to pytotonic effect. Due to variation in the agro climatic conditions of different regions, insects show varying trends in their incidence pattern and extent of damage to the crop. Chemical control solely shows costly and it requires continual applications against target pest. Therefore, the seed treatment seems to be a plausible option for pest management. Thus, it is concluded that for the management of shoot fly seed treatment with (T5) thiamethoxam (19.8 w/w) + cyantraniliprole (19.8 w/w) 6 ml/kg followed by thiamethoxam 30 FS 10 ml/kg (T4) can be recommended on sorghum. Keywords: Germination, oviposition, shoot fly, sorghum, Thiamethoxam, Cyantraniliprole. INTRODUCTION Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, sometimes known as giant millet or jowar, is a member of the poaceae family and is one of the most widely grown cereals worldwide. In 2017–18, the estimated globally sorghum production was 58.77 million metric tonnes, farmed on 40.32 million hectares of cultivated land, with a productivity of 1456 kg/ha (Anonymous, 2019). Over 150 insect species have been reported as sorghum pests worldwide, with over 100 of those species coming from Africa (Kruger et al., 2008). In India, sorghum ranks fourth in area and production after rice, wheat and maize. The total cultivable area in India is 5.86 million hectares, with production of 4.57 million metric tonnes and productivity 780 kg-ha 1 (Anonymous, 2018). The variance in the agroclimatic conditions across various regions results in diverse patterns of insect incidence and crop damage severity. In addition, several meteorological conditions are important in determining the prevalence and dominance of a specific pest or pest complex (Meena et al., 2013). The shoot fly (A. soccata Rondani), among other insect pests, is one of the most destructive during the sorghum seedling stage(Sharma et al., 2006a and 2006b). The most prevalent pest of both wild and farmed sorghum in Africa and Asia is the gray-colored fly, A. soccata (Balikai and Bhagwat 2010). Adult flies deposit 20–40 cigar-shaped eggs on the underside of leaves in a single batch. Within two days of the eggs hatching, pale yellow maggots emerge from their tunnels inside the plant whorl and migrate amongst the young leaves. The developing tip of leaf sheaths is severed by the 10–12 mm long maggot, which then consumes the decomposing tissue that results. When the central shoot is damaged, it results in dead heart, side tillers are then produced, giving the plants a bushy appearance. Flies are active in the morning and evening, and their life cycle takes 18 to 25 days to complete. Pupation may take place in the soil or in the plant tissue after the larvae have finished molting in the decomposed tissue. Feeding can result in decreased tiller sizes and stand density, the death of young seedlings, and occasionally total crop loss (Patil and Bagde 2017). Agronomic practices, natural enemies Biological Forum – An International Journal 15(10): 1289-1293(2023)