Seasonal incidence of different insect pests of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) in addition, their correlation with abiotic factors in red lateritic zone of West Bengal

Abstract

The present study was carried out during the period of November 2016 to April 2017 at Agriculture farm, Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, at Sriniketan. Influence of weather parameters on the seasonal incidence of insect pests of okra was observed during rabi season. In brinjal the incidence of A. gossypii, was maximum during February (8th MSW) and minimum during April (14th MSW). The incidence of B. tabaci was maximum during March (10th MSW) and minimum during April (14th MSW). The incidence of A. biguttula biguttula, was maximum during March (12th MSW) and minimum during April (14th MSW). The population of Epilachna spp., was maximum during February (8th MSW) and minimum during April (14th MSW). The incidence of Leucinodes arbonalis on shoots and fruits was maximum during March (11th MSW) and minimum during April (14th MSW). The coefficient of determination (R2) for aphid, whitefly, leafhopper, Epilachna, shoot and fruit infestation was 0.342, 0.783, 0.743, 0.319, 0.851, 0.685, respectively. The statistically significant values indicated that occurrence of insect pests population was due to the prevailing ecological conditions.