Population dynamics of pigeonpea pod fly (Melanagromyza obtusa) and their correlation with abiotic factors in pigeonpea

Abstract

The present investigations entitled “Population dynamics of pigeonpea pod fly (Melanagromyza obtusa) and their correlation with abiotic factors in Pigeonpea” was carried out at Students’ Instructional Farm of Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad during Rabi, 2017. The pest activity started with the initiation of pod formation and continued though at varying level, throughout the reproductive stage of the crop. The presence of maggots of M. obtusa was noticed for the first time in 5th standard week. The maximum maggot population (37 maggots /100 pods) were recorded during 9th SW and the highest pupal population of (21pupae /100 pods) were recorded in 12th SW. It is evident from data that during 2017-18, maggots population showed non-significant negative correlation with minimum temperature (-0.261) and maximum temperature (-0.243) while relative humidity showed non-significant positive correlation (0.529) and pupal population had non-significant positive correlation with minimum temperature (0.195) and maximum temperature (0.389) while relative humidity showed non-significant negative correlation (-0.196).