Population densities of blossom thrips at different phenological stages of apple in Kashmir

Abstract

Thrips continue to be one of the most important pests affecting agricultural production systems. Thrips of Kashmir region on apple crop have been poorly studied in despite their significance to the important crop of valley, so in this regard a research trail were carried out for the year 2016 and 2017 to determine the change in the population densities from bud burst to peanut stage of apple by sampling each of the five stages: bud burst, pink bud, full bloom, petal fall and peanut stage. Two methods viz; sticky traps and direct count were employed to determine the change in the densities of the pest. Thrips density was significantly affected by apple bloom stages in both years. Densities were higher during bloom period both in 2016 and 2017. However total thrips count was more on sticky traps than direct count. Of total (264) count by sticky traps, 35.98% represents the bloom period followed by petal fall which represents 29.92% and 19.31% for pink bud and 13.25% for bud burst for the year 2016. In case of direct count of total number (220) was counted out of which full bloom represents 36.81% followed by petal fall which represents 31.36% and pink bud which represents 20% and 11.81% bud burst for the year 2016. A similar trend was followed for the year 2017 but varying total Thrip count in both cases.