Effect of weather parameters on incidence of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) on tomato

Abstract

Field trial was conducted to ascertain the population dynamics of B. tabaci on tomato crop variety Avinash 2 at Vegetable Research Farm of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), Bihar during Rabi season of 2016-17. Population count of the B. tabaci was made at five days interval from starting from 30 days after transplanting. Peak population (42.4 per three leaves) of whitefly was observed on 70th day after transplanting. Temperature (max. and min.) and sunshine (hrs) had a negative significant correlation, while morning and evening relative humidity had a positive significant correlation but wind speed had non- significant positive correlation. The correlation coefficient (r) was computed for max. temperature (-0.481), min. temperature (-0.483), morning relative humidity (0.514), evening relative humidity (0.483), wind speed (0.007) and sunshine hrs (-0.641), respectively. The weather parameters were found to contribute around 55.70 per cent impact on population of Bemisia tabaci when acted together (R2 = 0.5570).