Population Dynamics of Fruit Borer, H. armigera and Their Correlation with Abiotic Factors

Abstract

Insect pests are a serious constraint on global tomato production. Fruit borer is causes a sever tomato pests that cause significantly crop damage. The study analyzed the correlation between fruit borer and abiotic factor in tomato during the Kharif seasons of 2023 and 2024. The study was carried out at instructional farm, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Bikaner (Rajasthan). The incidence of H. armigera on tomato started in the 35th standard meteorological week during Kharif, 2023 and 2024. The initial mean populations of larvae were 0.99 and 0.53 per plant in the 35th SMW and fruit damage started in the 38th SMW (third week of October) in both the years of study with 10.90 and 12.78 per cent fruit damage during Kharif, 2023 and 2024, respectively. After that, the fruit borer population gradually increased and reached to peak with 4.96 and 5.12 larvae per plant and fruit damage with 30.38 and 32.26 per cent during the 41st standard meteorological week of Kharif, 2023 and 2024, respectively. Thereafter, pest population declined gradually and reached to the minimum of 0.05 and 0.26 larvae per plant in the fourth week of November (48th SMW), at the time of harvesting of the crop during Kharif 2023 and 2024, respectively. The maximum temperature showed significant positive and morning and evening relative humidity depicted a significant negative and significant positive correlation with larval population of H. armigera during Kharif 2023 and 2024, respectively. The maximum temperature showed a significant positive correlation with per cent fruit damage during Kharif 2024.