Incidence Of Pests Research Articles

Incidence of insect pests in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) fields and storage in Karachuonyo and Nyakach Constituencies of Western Kenya

Groundnut is a popular grain legume crop, and an important cash crop in Western Kenya. However, farmers are facing various production constraints leading to low yields. Yearly, statistical reports by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), Nuts and Oils Crops Directorate show a consistent decline in groundnut production in the potential. Lack of quality planting seeds, and pest infestation during growth and storage have been cited as major problems. Studies on the pests of the groundnut crop in the regions are still scarce. The study’s objective was to identify the key insect pests associated with the cultivation and storage of groundnuts in selected parts of the Western region of Kenya. The study was conducted in ten groundnut farms in Nyakach and Karachuonyo constituencies in two seasons, 2021 and 2022. Observation and direct field and storage insect sampling were done in the two regions. The species richness, abundance, and diversity of insects were calculated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Shannon Weiner index, respectively. In the present study, a total of 2,714 insect pests from 7 orders, 14 families, and 20 species of field pests and 2,396 individuals from 3 orders, 5 families, and 7 species of storage pests were recorded. This study shows that Empoasca kerri, was the most dominant field pest with a mean average of 344, followed by Aproaerema modicella (230), Frankliniella schultzei (136), Aphis craccivora (208), Microtermes sp. (96), Scirtothrips dorsali (64), Elasmolomus sordidus (69), Spodoptera litura (56) and Parastictococcus multispinosus (30), while storage pests were Liposcelis decolor (438), Tribolium castaneum (438), Plodia interpunctella (146), Cryptolestes minutus (137) and Ephestia cautella (30). These pests were causing physical damage to the groundnut plants, seeds and pods, leading to deterioration in the weight, quality, vigor, and reduction in the germination, thus leading to the loss of yield and market value. The study recommends further investigation of the actual damage potential of insect pests on groundnuts and the appropriate management strategies. Key words: Groundnut, insect pests, Empoasca kerri, Aproaerema modicella, Liposcelis decolor

Seasonal Variation of Major Insect Pests of Mungbean in Grid Region, Madhya Pradesh, India

During kharif 2022, the experiment was conducted at RVSKVV, College of Agriculture Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India, to investigate the seasonal incidence of the main mung bean insect pests. Three sucking insect pests were found to be present from the vegetative stage to the maturity stage: the aphid, Aphis craccivora, the leafhopper, Empoasca kerri, and the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci. We observed two lepidopterans from the reproductive stage to maturity: Spodoptera litura and Lampides boeticus. We saw two lepidopterans from the reproductive stage to maturity: Spodoptera litura and Lampides boeticus. The 39th SMW had the highest prevalence of A. craccivora and B. tabaci, with populations of 1.45 aphids per plant and 7.55 whiteflies per plant, respectively. On the 40th SMW, E. kerri's population peaked at 4.95 adults per plant. The 38th SMW saw a high of 0.52 larvae per plant for S. litura and 0.21 larvae per plant for L. boeticus. According to correlation studies, the maximum temperature was significantly correlated negatively with A. craccivora, B. tabaci, and L. boeticus (r = -0.667, -0.679, and -0.680). A substantial negative connection (-0.697) was observed between S. litura and maximum temperature, whereas a strong positive association (r = 0.704) was seen with evening relative humidity.

Seasonal Incidence of Insect Pests of Chickpea in Relation to Abiotic Factors

The present study explored the seasonal incidence of Insect pests of Chickpea in relation to abiotic factors. The field experiment was conducted at Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi during the Rabi season 2023-2024 to study the seasonal incidence of insect pests of chickpea. The results revealed that the occurrence of the larval population of Helicoverpa armigera starts in the 51st SMW. The peak level was attained in the 3rd SMW. The correlation studies revealed the negative with temperature and relative humidity while the positive correlation was found with rainfall between larval population and abiotic factors. The multiple regression explained the effect of abiotic factors on the larval population. The larval population gradually decreased at 10th SMW. Weather parameters and larval population together were responsible for 39% (R2=0.39) during Rabi season 2023-2024.

Response of different types of mulching materials on growth, yield, weed and disease incidence of capsicum under high altitude rainfed agro-climatic conditions

Capsicum (Capsicum annum L.) commonly known as Bell pepper or Sweet pepper belongs to Solanaceae family and is native to Mexico. Sweet peppers differ from hot peppers in shape and size of the fruits, capsaicin content and usage. Sweet pepper fruits are a rich source of vitamin C, polyphones, chlorophylls, carotenoids, sugars, magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and iron. Covering or mulching the soil surface can reduce weed problems by preventing weed seed germination or by suppressing the growth of emerging seedlings. Mulch is a material that spread on the surface of soil for conserving moisture, reducing weed infestation on the surface of soil and near vegetation. It also reduces pest and disease incidence in crops. Keeping in view the nutritional as well as economic importance of capsicum, an experiment on “Effect of different types of mulching materials on growth, yield, weed and disease incidence of capsicum under high altitude rainfed agro-climatic conditions was carried out at experimental field of Mountain Agriculture Research & Extension Station Gurez, SKUAST-K during Kharif 2020 with six treatments (Control- Un-mulched, Black polyethylene, Transparent polyethylene, White polyethylene, Forest litter and Grass to find out the response of mulching on growth, yield, weed and disease incidence of capsicum under high altitude rainfed agro-climatic conditions. Among the treatments studied, significantly highest plant height (52.00 cm), number of branches per plant (8.00), number of fruits per plant (18.00), yield per hectare (20.60 tonnes), weed incidence (4.66 %) and disease incidence (5%) were noticed with black polyethylene mulch.

Multiplex yield enhancers and their effect on growth, yield, and pest and disease incidence of potato crop

The effect of different multiplex yield enhancers was studied on the growth and yield parameters of potatoes, it worked variably at different stages of the crop. The treatment T10 which includes a recommended dosage of fertilizer, organic manures, essential nutrients, and biostimulants has shown a positive effect in increasing the plant height (36.00 cm, 46.67 cm, and 48.33 cm), number of branches/ plant (5.89, 7.56, and 10.22), number of leaves/ plant (65.78, 82.78 and 98.44) and numbers of tubers/ plant (at 30,60 and 90DAP). The treatment T15 has reported the highest yield/ plant and hectare (0.54 kg and 17.86 t/ha respectively) because of the foliar application at the reproductive phase. Whereas the treatment included Biojodi has recorded the lowest pest and disease incidence. As potatoes are a nutrient-exhaustive crop, combining Organic and inorganic sources of nutrient management would be helpful over chemical fertilizers.

Tradeoffs among ecosystem services and microbiome impacts associated with two cover crops for cocoa in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Cover crops could provide numerous benefits on cocoa farms, including promoting nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and active soil microbial communities. Despite growing interest in cover crops for cocoa, many knowledge gaps remain, particularly detailed species and management recommendations to maximize ecosystem services and optimize the soil microbiome in different geographies and production contexts. A field experiment was conducted in South Sulawesi, Indonesia to investigate the suitability of two potential cover crops, tropical kudzu (Pueraria javanica) and fodder sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam), for cocoa agroforestry systems. Cover crops were terminated after 6 months due to leaf chlorosis and declining yields in 2-year-old cocoa trees, leading to an analysis of tradeoffs among supporting, regulating, and provisioning services and impacts on diversity and community composition of soil prokaryotes and fungi. Kudzu had a slight positive impact on N cycling, but both cover crops appeared to compete with cocoa for K, with lower yields in sweet potato plots. Among regulating services, cover crops tended to increase C sequestration but did not affect pest and disease incidence. Cover crop treatment accounted for a small but significant percentage of soil microbiome variation, likely driven by effects on soil pH and C, and altered the relative abundance of 155 microbial taxa. Functional-trait-based species selection and optimized management could help maximize the ecosystem services delivered by cover crops, including those mediated by the microbiome, and minimize negative impacts on cocoa productivity.

Physio- Biochemical and Molecular Changes Associated with Waterlogging Stress in Sugarcane: A Review

The term waterlogging refers to a condition of short/ long term water stagnation due to reduced capacity of the drainage system. In India, physical degradation of soil due to waterlogging has been estimated to be 8.5 million ha. It usually occurs due to rise in water table in almost all the canal irrigated areas with poor drainage system. Effects of waterlogging are augmented by secondary salinization and it aggravated the incidence of certain pests and diseases. In sugarcane, waterlogging is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting cane and sugar productivity. In many parts of the India, like eastern UP, northern Bihar and deltaic region of Tamil Nadu, sugarcane suffers from waterlogging during elongation phase because of heavy monsoon rains and poor drainage facilities. Higher water table during grand growth phase adversely affects cane weight and shoot population which occurs due to shift in respiratory metabolism from aerobic to anaerobic condition. Waterlogging not only reduced root growth, leaf emergence rate but also caused destruction of root function, hormone balance and nutrient availability. Sugarcane crop affected with waterlogging stress showed aerial rooting, cane lodging and decreased cane and sugar yield. Under water-logging condition, some morphological, anatomical, physiological and biochemical changes take place in plant for the sake of adaptation/survival. Present paper is an overview of physiological, morphological, anatomical, biochemical and molecular changes associated with waterlogging tolerance in sugarcane.

Evaluation of Soil Quality and Health Sustainability of Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) Crop in Two Production Systems, Morona, Santiago, Ecuador

The productive evaluation of cocoa in this research is proposed through an assessment of soil quality and crop health in an organic production system (SPO) Taisha canton and a conventional production system (SPCv) Morona canton. Methodology: Altieri and Nicholls establish a diagnosis of chemical, physical, biological and health indicators, with weightings high (10), medium (5) and low (1). Results: SPO soil quality, reflects weights 10 (high) for ammonium ion, zinc, copper, iron, manganese, moisture retention, biological activity, compaction, apparent density, residue status, color, organic matter, root development, erosion incidence; 5 (medium) potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, pH, texture; 1 (low) magnesium, boron, topsoil depth, for crop health values ​​of 10 (high) appearance, crop growth, stress resistance or tolerance, weed competition, agrosilvopastoral system, plant diversity and management system, 5 (medium) potential yield, incidence of pests and diseases. The SPCv soil quality presented a weighting of 10 (high) for nitrogen, zinc, copper, iron, biological activity, compaction, bulk density, color, organic matter, root development, erosion incidence; 5 (medium) manganese, pH, texture, moisture retention, residue status; 1 (low) potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, topsoil depth; crop health 10 (high) crop appearance and growth, stress resistance or tolerance, weed competition, agrosilvopastoral system, plant diversity, management system, potential yield, 5 (medium) incidence of pests and diseases, 1 (low) surrounding natural diversity. Conclusions: The SPO for soil quality: 7.41 and for crop health: 7.59 weighted as sustainable, while the SPCv for soil quality: 6 and crop health: 6.76, resulting in a moderately sustainable production system.

Promoting Organic Botanical Pesticides for Sustainable Agriculture: A Solution to Pesticide Misuse and Environmental Toxins

Abstract: The application of synthetic pesticides in agricultural activities is alarming with various implications to the health of human beings and the environment. Organic botanical pesticides are made from plants, making them the best option as compared to synthetic chemicals since they are environmentally friendly and have negligible toxic content. The purpose of this research is to assess the efficacy of organic botanical pesticides in the management of pests, especially on the nematodes and the mealybugs affecting the fig and mango trees using Abba organic pesticides oily extract of Cymbopogon schoenanthus (L.). It has also been observed that there has been a great success in the reduction of pest incidence as well as enhanced plant health from using organic pesticides hence underpinning its usefulness in an organic agriculture production system. However, some adoption barriers that the authors noted included higher costs, slower results, and poor awareness among farmers. The paper recommends changes in the policies, providing financial motivation, and increasing training concerning the application of organic botanical pesticides. Keywords: Organic botanical pesticides, sustainable agriculture, pest control, environmental conservation, organic farming

Study on Cost and Returns of Cash Crops in Sirmour District, Himachal Pradesh, India

The present study examines the cost and returns of major cash crops raised by different category of farmers in district Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh. The study also identified the different production problems faced by farmers using weighted rank method. Two stage stratified random sampling technique was followed to select a sample of villages and the ultimate farmers. A random sample of 60 farmers was chosen for the study. The major findings revealed that production of vegetables varied from 6.42 qtl for peas to as high as 25.93 qtl of tomato per farm. Garlic being a spice crop recorded the production of 14.37 quintal per farm. In the study, per hectare cost of cultivation was found to be highest for tomato, i.e., Rs. 34200, followed by garlic (Rs. 26134) and beans (Rs. 15427) and lowest for peas (Rs. 11247), The per hectare net return was found to be higher for garlic crop (Rs.115066) when compared to tomato crop (Rs. 55785), beans and peas (Rs. 17108 to Rs. 6703). Therefore, garlic crop was found to be the most profitable crop with the net return of Rs. 115066 which was more and double of profit earned from tomato (Rs. 55785), peas (Rs. 6703) and beans (Rs. 17108). Similarly, the cost of cultivation was found to be highest for the large farmers and the per hectare net return also seemed to be the highest for the large farmers. Likewise, gross returns were also found highest for large farmers than that of small farmers. Further, the study revealed that major production problems faced by the farmers were availability of quality seed, high cost of inputs which were rated at top, followed by monkey & stray animals, quality of seed not available, high cost of inputs and high incidence of pest and pesticides etc. In order to increasing farm production and to minimise operational costs, the availability of high yielding variety seeds, reasonable prices of inputs like seed, fertilizers, pesticides etc., may enhance the farmers’ net return and income.

Perception of resource-limited livestock farmers on adaptation management strategies in drought-prone rural areas in Eastern Cape province, South Africa

Livestock farming is a crucial source of income and livelihood. However, its sustainability is being adversely affected by the unpredictable climatic changes. It would be valuable to comprehend how livestock farmers perceive climate change (CC) and the adaptation strategies. This study evaluated farmers’ views of climate change impact, adaptation measures, and the obstacles to these measures. A cross-sectional and multi-stage sampling method was employed. Data collected from 300 randomly chosen farmers were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Garrett ranking technique. Most of the respondents were male (71.67%) and between the ages of 21-60 (62%). Most respondents were married (67%) and had a form of education. Increased disease occurrence, decreased livestock production rate, increased poor vegetation, increased water scarcity, and ambient temperature were perceived by the respondents to have been impacted ‘to a great extent’ by 45%, 38%, 53%, 36% and 42%, respectively. Perceived and rated as ‘to a great extent’ by the respondents on climate change impact were ‘increased distance covered by livestock for water and pasture (29%), decreased growth rate (28%), and increased ambient temperature (30%)’. Based on descending mean rank, the farmers’ most favoured strategies for adapting to climate change included reducing their livestock numbers (58.98), collecting and storing water (55.66) and planning for supplementary feeding (55.35). The income management strategies under CC include off-farm employment (55.48), borrowing from self-help groups (54.48), and friends and relatives (50.72), in that order. The top barriers to CC, in descending order of mean rank, by the farmers include a high incidence of pests and diseases (61.47%), non-availability of improved forage seed (52.06), lack of appropriate water harvesting facilities (51.84), smaller/ fragmented land holding for forage (51.56) and scarcity of farm labour (47.75). The livestock farmers’ perception of climate change impacts indicated that most of the factors examined were rated as significant. Most respondents are aware of climate change (CC) and its repercussions on livestock productivity. Key words: Livestock productivity, management strategies, policies, sustainability, climate change, productivity, perception, farmers

Population Dynamics, Incidence and Damage of Myzus persicae on Capsicum annuum under Polyhouse Conditions in Kashmir Valley

An experiment was conducted to assess the population dynamics, incidence, leaf damage and severity of green peach aphid (M. persicae) infesting on capsicum (Capsicum annum) under polyhouse condition in Kashmir valley. The present studies revealed that M. persicae was associated with the capsicum crop throughout the growing season with significant crop damage by the pest. Infestations including pest incidence, damage and severity of aphid forms commenced from early crop stage and thereafter, the population of aphid nymphs, apterous and alate forms gradually increased and peak in the 1st fortnight of August (32nd Standard Meteorological Week) and decline at the time of maturely of crop. Further correlation studies revealed that population of M. persicae exhibited statistically significant positive correlation with temperature and a non-significant negative correlation with Relative humidity.

The Effect of Climatic Conditions on the Seasonality of Pest Insect Populations in Eucalyptus Plantations in the Neotropics.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp., Mirtaceae) stands out for its remarkable regeneration capacity, making it a valuable tool for recovering degraded areas and for reforestation. Despite its Australian origins, eucalyptus has shown remarkable adaptation to the Brazilian tropical climate, contributing to the wood productivity of the country. However, the extensive monoculture of eucalyptus can increase pest incidence, thus being a significant challenge for the forestry sector, which suffers production losses of up to 30%. We analyzed the occurrence of 11 pest insect species in 450 eucalyptus stands over 9years in the southeastern region of Brazil in our study. We related pest occurrences to specific year periods and climatic variations using circular uniformity analysis and zero-inflated models. We found that the species generally had isolated peaks of occurrence during the year and that the increase in the occurrence of at least five species was related to temperature or precipitation. The results highlight the sensitivity of pests to climatic conditions, showing the importance of management strategies to ensure the sustainability and productivity of eucalyptus plantations. We can develop more effective management strategies by understanding how these variables interact with insect populations, contributing to the sustainability and productivity of eucalyptus plantations with less aggressive environmental practices.

Incidence, Damage and Management of the Major Pests and Diseases of Robusta Coffee, [Coffea canephora (Pierre Ex A. Froehner)] in Uganda

Black Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB), Xylosandrous compactus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD) are still the two main biological constraints to Robusta coffee production in Uganda. A rapid assessment survey was conducted in January 2022 in the Regions of Eastern (Busoga), Greater Masaka, Western, South western and Rwenzori to determine the status of pests and diseases in the different regions. A short-structured questionnaire with both open and closed-ended questions was administered to 268 participants that were purposively selected in different regions. At plot level, five coffee plants were selected in each of the sampled coffee farms for observation. The selected stems were checked for infestation by the stem borers and root mealy bugs (evidenced by ants moving up and down the coffee tree). The coffee canopy was divided into 2 imaginary sections—upper and lower to assess damage by leaf skeletonizers, tailed caterpillars, beetles, aphids, mealybugs, lygus, brown eye spot, coffee leaf rust, scales, aphids, berry moth and red blister. In addition, data was collected at field level parameters including: shade intensity, the most common shade trees, weed management and most common weeds (whether grasses, sedges or broadleaved), mulching intensity and mulching material, manuring intensity and common manure used, fertilizer application and type of fertilizer used, presence and type of cover crops, presence of bands and trenches as well as intensity of intercropping and the most common intercrops. Field observations revealed that the Black Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB) was responsible for the drying up of young and old coffee branches across all regions together with Coffee Wilt disease (CWD) to a smaller extent. On average, 9.4% of the primary branches were infested by BCTB. The highest damage levels of BCTB were recorded in Eastern (17.2%) and Western (12.4%) regions. Although, BCTB affected all ages of coffee, young coffee of 2-3 years was most affected. Overall, 3.9% of the sampled coffee trees were infected by Coffee Wilt Disease (CWD), with the highest incidence (8.2%) recorded in Southwestern Uganda. There is need to enhance existing management measures for coffee pests and diseases especially BCTB and CWD. Due to the high levels of spread of BCTB, this will require a community approach to sensitize farmers through meetings and media on the sustainable management of BCTB. There is also need to come up with good dissemination strategies of Coffee Wilt Disease Resistant varieties to aid their uptake and roll out a gap filling programme for coffee trees infected and destroyed by CWD across all regions using CWDr varieties.

AVALIAÇÃO DA INCIDÊNCIA DE PRAGAS EM MUDAS DE IPÊ AMARELO (TABEBUIA SERRATIFOLIA) SOB O EFEITO DA SATURAÇÃO POR BASES EM UM LATOSSOLO AMARELO DISTRÓFICO TEXTURA MÉDIA

The yellow Ipê (Tabebuia serratifolia) is a forest species found in several regions of Brazil, in addition to having economic importance for the market for the production of seedlings, hardwood and urban landscaping. This research aims to evaluate the incidence of pests in seedlings of yellow Ipê (Tabeluia serratifolia), in order to identify the main pests that occur in the crop and their correlation with different levels of base saturation. The work was carried out in a greenhouse in a completely randomized experimental design (DIC), and the respective amounts of dolomitic limestone with PRNT of 98% were applied in the 5 treatments (V0% - initial soil saturation (without lime application); V20% (0.5 g), V40% (4.0 g), V60% (7.5 g) and V80% (11.0 g) and 5 replicates. After 30 years of soil incubation with the application of limestone, seedlings of yellow Ipê were transplanted and the nutrient solution (with macro and micronutrients) was applied and during the development of the plant, five inspections were carried out, analyzing five leaves at random per treatment, with the function of verifying the study of variables such as: attacked leaf area (use of the calculation of base x height in the lesions), average attack, type of pest (identification, through Embrapa's identification guide) and leaf area damage levels (low (0 to 15%), medium (15 to 30%) and high (greater than 30%)). Regression analyses were performed on the variables using Microsoft Office Excel 2013 and hierarchical cluster and Euclidean distance model analyses using the IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 software. It was observed that the area of the plants that suffered the greatest attack by pests was the foliar, and no attacks on the stem of the plants were observed. The treatment that suffered the least from pest attack was V20%= 0.5g of limestone, where there was almost no incidence of pests analyzing the five inspections carried out during the experiment. Showing that this level of soil correction (0.5g of limestone) raised the base saturation index to 42.99%, increasing the concentration of nutrients in the seedlings to adequate levels according to literature recommendations, favoring resistance to pest attack. On the other hand, the treatment where the most attack occurred was V40% = 4.0g of limestone, where the levels of damage in the leaf area were higher, demonstrating that base saturation levels equal to or greater than 44.28% do not favor the crop in terms of resistance to pest attack. It was concluded that base saturation levels lower than 42.99% reduce the incidence of pests in the Ipê-amarelo crop, and values above this can favor pest attack. The pests that affect this crop in the Northeast region of Pará, according to the study, were the grasshopper (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Leptysminae) and the caterpillar of the species Anartia jatrophae. High rates of attack on the leaf area of the seedlings cause a drop in photosynthetic power and thus decrease energy gain, harming their development.

Detection and Classification of Agave angustifolia Haw Using Deep Learning Models

In Oaxaca, Mexico, there are more than 30 species of the Agave genus, and its cultivation is of great economic and social importance. The incidence of pests, diseases, and environmental stress cause significant losses to the crop. The identification of damage through non-invasive tools based on visual information is important for reducing economic losses. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare five deep learning models: YOLO versions 7, 7-tiny, and 8, and two from the Detectron2 library, Faster-RCNN and RetinaNet, for the detection and classification of Agave angustifolia plants in digital images. In the town of Santiago Matatlán, Oaxaca, 333 images were taken in an open-air plantation, and 1317 plants were labeled into five classes: sick, yellow, healthy, small, and spotted. Models were trained with a 70% random partition, validated with 10%, and tested with the remaining 20%. The results obtained from the models indicate that YOLOv7 is the best-performing model, in terms of the test set, with a mAP of 0.616, outperforming YOLOv7-tiny and YOLOv8, both with a mAP of 0.606 on the same set; demonstrating that artificial intelligence for the detection and classification of Agave angustifolia plants under planting conditions is feasible using digital images.

Physiological Adaptations of Vegetables to Climate Stress

Vegetables, being rich in vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals, proteins and antioxidants are essential for overcoming micronutrient deficiencies, offering higher incomes and more employment opportunities per hectare to smallholder farmers compared to staple crops. Major challenges faced by vegetable growers are increased terminal heat stress, rainfall variability leading to flooding, drought, irrigation water availability, salinity, incidence of pests and diseases, extreme weather events. These gets further worsened in the future due to climate change. Vegetables exhibit various physiological adaptations to cope with changing environmental conditions such as enhanced photosynthetic efficiency, improved water-use efficiency, and altered phenological development. Higher temperatures accelerate the life cycle of vegetables cause increased respiration, leading to earlier maturation and potentially lower yields. Increased frequency of heat waves can cause heat stress, affecting growth and development. Moreover elevated temperatures increase the incidence of pests and diseases, leading to higher crop losses. Changes in precipitation patterns alter water availability, impacting growth and productivity. Nevertheless drought conditions cause stomatal closure limiting water loss besides reducing CO2 uptake. Excessive rainfall can lead to waterlogging, disrupting root function and nutrient uptake. Variability in climate conditions lead to inconsistent yields, making it challenging for farmers and necessitating adaptive strategies to ensure crop resilience and productivity. Genetic improvement through breeding for heat and drought tolerance helps to develop resilient vegetables. Additionally, agronomic practices like mulching, organic farming, and resource conservation technologies help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. Understanding these physiological responses could streamline sustainable vegetable production in the face of a changing climate.

Seasonal Incidence of Tea Mosquito Bug, Helopeltis spp. in Guava, cv. L-49 at ARS- Hagari, Ballari, Karnataka, India

Guava production faces significant challenges due to insect pests, with the tea mosquito bug (TMB), Helopeltis spp. (Heteroptera: Miridae), posing a major threat by causing extensive damage. Both adult and nymph stages of TMB feed on young leaves, tender shoots, flower buds, and small fruits, leading to substantial plant stress. Infestation at the fruit’s early stages often causes premature drying and fruit drop, while damage to leaves and shoots results in drying and withering of shoots. TMB also causes visible black specks on flower buds that later merge, leading to bud desiccation, and its feeding punctures on fruits expand as fruits mature, forming corky patches that reduce marketable yield by up to 60–70%. Although TMB’s impact on guava is severe, limited information exists regarding its pest status and seasonal incidence. To address this, a study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Hagari, Ballari, Karnataka, to observe TMB incidence on guava. Bi-weekly observations from June 2019 to May 2021 recorded both affected and healthy plant parts, including young leaves, flower buds, and fruits. Over the two-year period, pest incidence on young leaves began in early July (4.11%) and peaked in the first fortnight of October (18.59%). Infestation on flower buds started in early August (8.29%) and reached a maximum (23.30%) by mid-October, while fruit infestation began at 8.89% in early August, peaking at 23.30% in mid-October. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between fruit infestation and temperature, while relative humidity and rainfall showed significant positive correlations with infestation levels.

Weather based forewarning model for cotton pests using zero-inflated and hurdle regression models

Early forewarning of crop pest based on weather variables provides lead time to manage impending pest attacks that minimize crop loss, decrease the cost of pesticides and enhance the crop yield. This paper is an attempt to forewarn incidence of Cotton pests using weather variables. The pest incidence data from 2015 to 2023 for Aphids, Jassids, Thrips, and Whiteflies has been used for the study. The pest incidence being count variable, different count regression models such as zero inflated Poisson & negative binomial, hurdle Poisson & negative binomial, negative binomial and generalized Poisson regression models have been developed for forewarning of pests. Results indicated that zero inflated Poisson regression model outperformed the other models with improved performance of nearly 30 to 75%. Thus, the zero inflated Poisson regression model is a reliable tool in prediction of cotton pests, thereby aiding towards better pest management strategies.

Effect of planting dates on the incidence of major rice pests

Effect of planting dates on the incidence of major rice pests