Prevalence of insect pests of sunflower at Golarchi Badin Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

The Hysun-39 variety was cultivated on an area of ½ acre in December 2014, at seed production unit of Guard Agriculture Research and Services Farm Golarchi, Badin. Plant to plant distance was maintained at 10 inches and row to row 35 inches. Data of the insect pest population was recorded after ten days, 30 plants were selected randomly from the experimental plot, 05 leaves and head from each plant was observed for insect pest population. The observation was taken till harvesting. The metrological record was kept during research work. The data thus collected was analyzed statistically through software SXW 8.0. The predatory behavior of ladybird beetles was positively correlated with aphid, whereas maximum population of ladybird 5.45 was recorded on 12nd February, it was observed that with the increase of aphid population the population of ladybird beetles did not increase, it remained constant till March and then declined. Zigzag beetle population was started in January and at highest reached 2.74 per plant. Attack of spotted bollworm incidence started in March its population remained constant till April. In first week of April the population of whitefly was at highest, later started declining gradually till last week. Overall results recorded mean population as for aphids (71.62), whitefly (13.43), jassid (7.93), spotted beetle (2.35), ladybird beetle (4.89) and zigzag beetle (2.74).