Author(s):

Rakesh Kumar Sharma and Yogesh Khokhar

Abstract: Peach leaf curl aphid Brachycaudus helichrysi (Kaltenbach) is regular and destructive pest of peach in lower Shiwaliks of Punjab causing nearly 50 percent crop loss due to less fruit set and early fruit drop. Keeping in view the economic importance of this pest the present study was conducted from 2013-2015 to determine seasonal incidence and effect of weather parameters on B. helichrysi build up. The results revealed that mean aphid population for the year 2013, 2014 and 2015 was 106.1, 123.3 and 127/10 leaves, respectively which showed that over the years the pest incidence has increased. The highest mean aphid population was recorded during March (195.62/10 leaves) followed by February (90.75/10 leaves) and declined in the month of April (64.37/10leaves). The correlation coefficient was positive but significant with maximum temperature T_max (r= 0.941* and r=968*) in the month of February and March respectively and significant negative correlation was observed with T _max (r=--0.962) in April. Similarily minimum temperature showed positive but non significant (r=0.860 and r=0.520) correlation with aphid population in February and March respectively while negative and significant relation (r=-950*) was observed in April. Rainfall exhibited insignificant negative (r=-0.782, r=-0.504 and r=-0.295) impact on the pest multiplication for these months. The correlation coefficient of mean relative humidity was positive and significant so at lower RH there was decrease in aphid population. There was significant reduction in fruit yield (by 32%) due to aphid incidence. Therefore results depicts that temperature and RH plays important role in the build up of aphid population during different months hence the predictions and forewarning of the aphid population by using weather parameters will be helpful in management of this pest.

Pages: 1730-1733  |  951 Views  315 Downloads

Download (496KB)