Seasonal incidence of Ocimum tingid bug, Cochlochila bullita Stal (Heteroptera: Tingidae) on three different species of Ocimum viz. Ocimum basilicum L., Ocimum sanctum L. and Ocimum kilimandscharicum Guerke

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted on the seasonal incidence Ocimum lace bug on three different species of Ocimum viz. Ocimum basilicum L., Ocimum sanctum L. and Ocimum kilimandscharicum Guerke at CSIR- IIIM, Chatha Farm, Jammu. The data on seasonal fluctuations of Ocimum tingid bug, Cochlochila bullita on various species of Ocimum such as Ocimum basilicum L., Ocimum sanctum L. and Ocimum kilimandscharicum Guerke were first observed during 33rd standard week of August i.e. 0.40 Mean insect/ plant, 0.2 mean insect/plant and 0.20 mean insect/plant, respectively. The maximum lace bug population was recorded on sweet basil during 39th standard week i.e. 52.60 mean insect/ plant when weekly mean maximum temperature 29.7 oC, minimum temperature 23.1 oC, morning relative humidity 93.1% and evening relative humidity 75.90 %, rainfall 93.40 mm, and wind speed 2.00 km/hr, respectively. Similarly, the highest peak of lace bug on holy basil and camphor basil were recorded during 39th standard week (51.80 mean insect/plant) and 38th standard week (49.80 mean insect/ plant), respectively. Thereafter, the population of lace bug on various Ocimum spp decreased till 1st standard week up to 0.20 mean insect/ plant, respectively. A highly positive significant correlation was exhibited between weekly mean maximum temperature (0.603**) and minimum temperature (0.556**) on Ocimum basilicum pest population. Furthermore, the population of Ocimum tingid bug on Ocimum sanctum exhibited highly positively significant correlation with mean maximum temperature (0.585**) and minimum temperature (0.518*) whereas, on Ocimum kilimandscharicum showed a positive correlation with maximum (highly significant) (0.589**) and minimum temperature (highly significant) (0.535**), respectively were noted. The regression analysis indicated that all the weather parameters together were responsible for a significant variation of 57.50 %, 54.50 % and 50.50 % on the Ocimum lace bug incidence on three different species of Ocimum such as Ocimum basilicum L., Ocimum sanctum L. and Ocimum kilimandscharicum Guerke, respectively.