Influence of abiotic and biotic factors on seasonal abundance of brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to investigate the influence of abiotic and biotic factors on seasonal abundance of brinjal shoot and fruit borer in brinjal crop during Kharif season. The infestation of brinjal shoot and fruit borer on shoots of brinjal reached to its peak in the second week of September, whereas, infestation on fruits of brinjal reached to its peak in the third week of October during both the years. The infestation of L. orbonalis on brinjal shoots had significant positive correlation with maximum temperature during both the years. The total rainfall had non-significant correlation and significant negative correlation with infestation of L. orbonalis on brinjal shoot during 2019 and 2020, respectively. Whereas, the infestation of L. orbonalis on fruits of brinjal had significant positive correlation with maximum temperature during both the years. The fruit infestation had non-significant negative correlation with average relative humidity during 2019, while, and contrary to this it had significant negative correlation during 2020. The population of braconids had significant positive correlate with infestation caused by L. orbonalis during both the years.