PCRA based study of weather parameters on seasonal incidence of mango mealy bug, Drosicha mangiferae (Green)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out during the fruiting season 2021 and 2022 at the Horticulture Research Centre, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar. The incidence of Drisicha mangiferae on mango was slightly higher in 2022 (15.67±0.79 adults/three leaves) as compared to 2021 (13.84±0.65 adults/three leaves). Mango mealy bug populations showed significant positive correlation with maximum temperature and evaporation while being positively correlated with minimum temperature, sunshine and wind velocity. Major factors viz., Maximum temperature, relative humidity, sunshine, and evaporation influencing the D. mangiferae population build-up were predicted using the PCRA technique with reasonable accuracy (R2 =0.91).