Studies on impact of seasonal and environmental factors on incidence of shoot and capsule borer in cardamom varieties M-1 and M-2

Abstract

Cardamom shoot and capsule borer, Conogethes punctiferalis Guenee (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is considered to be an important pest causing damage to the cardamom suckers as well as capsules. During the present investigation, peak incidence of C. punctiferalis, on the cardamom crop during April- May and October- November in both M1 & M2 varieties. The per cent infestation of shoot was more than 10 % from Feb- June with a peak of 30.25 % and 31.50 % during II fortnight of May on both the varieties. Whereas on capsules, the incidence was observed during August- November with a peak of 20.00 % and 21.70 % during II fortnight of November on M1 & M2 varieties.Studies on the influence of weather factors on the infestation on shoot borer revealed that, shoot borer population had a positive and significant correlation between maximum temperature on the shoot damage, while had significant correlation with relative humidity and rainfall for capsule damage on M1 & M2 varieties respectively.