Influence of morphological parameters on the incidence of Abacarus sacchari and Aceria sacchari on sugarcane varieties

Abstract

A study was conducted to know the incidence of eriophyiid mite pests, Abacarus sacchari and Aceria saccari were influenced by morphological parameters of sugarcane crop at ZARS, V. C. Farm, Mandya. In the present investigation, distance at the base of the vein, leaf length, leaf area and plant height had positive correlation and influenced more incidence of sugarcane rust mite, Abacarus sacchari population. The parameters such as distance from one vein to another, width of the leaf, leaf inclination and trichome density did not support the growth of mite population and had negative correlation. In case of sugarcane blister mite, Aceria saccari, thickness of leaf sheath, girth of the shoot, moisture content in the leaf sheath and easily detachable leaf sheath were found to have significant positive correlation whereas leaf sheath length, width, fresh weight were found to have non-significant relation. From the present investigation, it can be concluded that no single morphological factor is responsible in mite population fluctuation but all the factors work in compliment with each other.