Population dynamics of brinjal fruit and shoot borer, Leucinodes orbonalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Kashmir

Abstract

Field surveys were carried out on the population dynamics of brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis at the University Experimental Farm, Shalimar Campus; Vegetable Farm, Habak and Wanganpora (Iddgah); and Bugam, Narkara and Gangbug from Budgam. Observations on the infestation were made at weekly intervals during kharif, 2014. The least shoot infestation was in the district Srinagar (Shalimar) at 13.03%, followed by Habak (14.47%) and Wanganpora (16.02%), whereas in the district Budgam it was 11.93% followed by Narkara (14.79%) and Gangbug (16.53%). Fruit infestation was also the least at Shalimar (14.57%) followed by Wanganpora (19.02%) and Habak (19.44%), whereas in district Budgam, the least infestation was 17.06% followed by Narkara (18.43%) and Gangbug (20.13%). Correlation coefficients between weather factors and adult catches at all the six locations revealed positive and significant relationships with minimum temperature, while maximum temperature, rainfall, relative humidity (evening), wind speed had positive and non significant ones; relative humidity (morning) had negative and non significant correlation. Multiple regression analysis too revealed that minimum temperature as the major weather factor followed by relative humidity (evening), wind speed, maximum temperature, and rainfall had the least effect.