Seasonal incidence of major insect-pest and their biocontrol agent of wheat crop

Abstract

Field experiment on Seasonal incidence of major insect-pest and their biocontrol agent of wheat crop was conducted during rabi season of 2018-19 on wheat crop at Agricultural Research Station, Niphad, Dist. Nasik. To study the seasonal incidence of insect pest on wheat and their natural enemies and their correlation with the weather parameters. During seasonal abundance study, aphid species R. padi was found predominant on wheat. Wheat aphid was noticed from December, 2018 to second week of February, 2019. The maximum population of wheat aphid was recorded in the month of January and reached the peak in the 4thweek of January (160.90 aphid/shoot/plant) thereafter declined. The incidence of aphid disappeared from 3rd week of February i.e. 8th MW. Aphid infestation showed significant negative correlation with minimum temperature and non-significant negative correlation with evening and morning humidity. The maximum of 34.20 number of Jassid/plant were recorded in the first meteorological week when the maximum and minimum temperature was 29.0 and 5.50C, respectively. The activity of natural enemies was noticed from 2nd week of December to 4th week of January coinciding with aphid population on the crop. It ranged from 1.10 to 6.50 natural enemies/m2. Natural enemies/m2 showed significant negative correlation with minimum temperature and non-significant negative correlation with maximum temperature.