To study the seasonal incidence of tomato fruit borer, Helicoverpa armigera under prevailing agro climatic condition of Bilaspur

Abstract

The results revealed that the population of fruit borer appeared on tomato fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) cultivar i.e. Pusa Ruby was conducted during October to March 2025 at Instructional Farm, Barrister Thakur Chhedilal College of Agriculture and Research Station, Bilaspur, a constituent College of Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (Chhattisgarh), during Rabi, 2024-25. To know the effect of abiotic factors on the incidence of fruit borer on tomato, the correlation coefficient was worked out between mean fruit borer population and weather parameters. Seasonal incidence studies revealed that H. armigera infestation commenced in the 51st Standard Meteorological Week (December), crossed the economic threshold level in the 6th SMW (February), and peaked in the 10th SMW (March) at 4.83 larvae per plant. Pest population showed significant positive correlations with maximum temperature (r = 0.96), minimum temperature (r = 0.93), evaporation (r = 0.93), and sunshine hours, while morning relative humidity had a significant negative correlation (r = −0.82). The maximum and minimum temperatures showed highly significant positive correlation whereas, the morning relative humidity revealed negative highly significant correlation with fruit borer population, respectively. The rainfall showed negative correlation with fruit borer population. The evaporation showed positive correlation with fruit borer population. The sunshine showed highly significant positive correlation with fruit borer population on Tomato.