Influence of weather parameters on seasonal abundance of whitefly on tomato in Haryana

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi, 2016-2017 to ascertain the influence of various meteorological parameters on population fluctuations of Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci on tomato at Entomological Research Area, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. Whitefly infestation commenced during 9th Standard meteorological week (SMW) i.e. first week of March, reaching up to a maximum level (5.78 whitefly adults/ 3 leaves) during 3rd week of April (16th SMW). Whitefly population exhibited significant and negative correlation with evening relative humidity (r= -0.718) whereas it was non-significantly correlated with all other weather parameters viz., maximum and minimum temperature, sunshine hours, rainfall, morning humidity and wind velocity. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that out of total variability in whitefly population due to all weather parameters, 52 per cent (R2=0.52) variability was accounted by evening relative humidity.