Population Dynamics of Sucking Pests in relation to Weather Parameters in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

Population dynamics of sucking pests of groundnut was studied during July to October 2014, at Reasearch farm, CTAE, Udaipur. Three pests viz. aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch), jassid (Empoasca kerri Pruthi) and thrips (Scirtotharips dorsalis Hood) were recorded. Incidence of aphid, jassid and thrips started in 2nd week of August. Aphid (7.60 aphids/ 3 leaves) touched the peak in the 3rd week of September; whereas, Jassid (7.00 jassids/ 3 leaves) and thrips (3.80 thrips/ 3 leaves) attained peak in the 2nd week of September. The population of aphid exhibited a negative correlation with temperature and rainfall, whereas positive correlation with relative humidity. However, the correlation was non-significant. Jassid population showed negative correlation with temperature, whereas relative humidity and rainfall were found non-significant and positive. The correlation between thrips population and temperature was negative but with total rainfall, the correlation was positive and non-significant and correlation with relative humidity was positively significant.