Pear (Pyrus communis), a commercially important fruit crop, is widely cultivated across temperate regions of India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Since prehistoric times, pear has been utilized as food, making them the second most significant fruit in the temperate region. Among its key pests, Pear Psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola Foerster) has emerged as a serious threat, causing considerable damage by stunting tree growth, reducing fruit size, and inducing premature leaf drop. This study assessed the impact of various abiotic factors—namely temperature, humidity, and rainfall—on the seasonal incidence and population dynamics of Pear Psylla across four locations in the Baramulla and Srinagar districts of Kashmir. Regular monitoring of pest populations alongside meteorological observations revealed a positive correlation between psylla abundance and both maximum and minimum temperatures, whereas rainfall and maximum relative humidity exhibited a negative correlation. Regression analysis indicated that these climatic variables collectively explained up to 95% of the variation in psylla populations. Among the insecticides tested, cyantraniliprole 10.26% OD demonstrated the highest efficacy (92.74%), followed closely by acetamiprid 20% SP (90.87%). The findings suggest that the optimal temperature range for psylla development lies between 27°C and 29°C, underlining the significant influence of weather conditions on pest population dynamics. These insights can inform the development of timely and effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for Pear Psylla. IPM is often recognised as a pest management program that incorporates multiple techniques including cultural, biological, physical and chemical controls to limit risks to human and ecosystem health.
Author (s) Details
Kusum
Division of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-K, Shalimar,
Srinagar, 190025, India.
Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rpbs/v5/5654
No comments:
Post a Comment