Studies on population dynamics of major insect pests of tomato

Abstract

The experiment was carried out under polyhouse condition, College of Horticulture, Mudigere, University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India. The incidence of whitefly, T. vaporariorum nymphs and adults population occurred from 3rd SMW, peak population were noticed during 16th SMW, (2.10 nymphs/ 2cm2 and 4.00 adults/ leaf, respectively). Leaf miner, L. trifolii incidence occurred from 5th SMW and peak population were observed on 16th SMW (4.70 live mines/ leaf). Tomato pin worm, T. absoluta incidence occurred from 9th SMW, peak population were noticed during 18th SMW (5.39 mines/ leaf). The whitefly nymphs, adult whiteflies and tomato pin worm showed positive correlation with maximum temperature (r= 0.384, 0.202 and 0.237, respectively). Whereas, leaf miner had significant positive correlation with maximum temperature (r= 0.729). Minimum temperature showed positive correlation with whitefly nymphs, adults and tomato pin worm (r= 0.180, 0.297 and 0.138, respectively) and negative correlation with leaf miner (r= -0.034). Maximum relative humidity showed positive correlation with whitefly nymphs, adult whiteflies, leaf miner and tomato pin worm (r= 0.203, 0.005, 0.392 and 0.047, respectively). Whereas, minimum relative humidity was negatively correlated with whitefly nymphs, adult whiteflies and tomato pin worm (r= -0.060, 0.255 and 0.233, respectively).