Screening of Guava Varieties Against Rugose Spiralling Whitefly (Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin) in Guava

Abstract

Among the five guava varieties screened for Rugose spiralling whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioerculatus Martin variety Lalith recorded less RSW population per leaf (15.00) followed by Allahabad safeda (22.00) and Lucknow-49 (27.00) whereas, variety Taiwan white recorded RSW population of 40.00 and Taiwan Pink recorded 4.00 per leaf. For biophysical characters Taiwan pink recorded highest leaf length (12.76 cm), leaf width (5.93 cm), leaf area (75.66cm2) and lowest leaf lamina thickness (0.27mm) and trichomes (12.46/ cm2). Leaf length (0.840**), leaf width (0.780**), leaf area (0.890**) are significantly positively correlated with pest population whereas, leaf lamina thickness (-0.920**), trichomes (-0.820**) were significantly negatively correlated with pest population. For biochemical characters Taiwan pink recorded highest Total sugars (6.20%), reducing sugars (1.0%), non- reducing sugars (5.15%), Moisture content (74.00%), Chlorophyll content (46.50 SPAD units), TSS (17.80 oBrix) whereas, Pectin (0.50%), Total phenols (2.85 mg/g), Titrable acidity (0.60%) and Vitamin C (0.72 mg/g) were recorded less in Taiwan pink. Total sugars (0.978**), reducing sugars (0.897**), non- reducing sugars (0.976**), Moisture content (0.966**), Chlorophyll content (0.930**), TSS (0.994**) were positively correlated with pest population whereas, Pectin (-0.970**), Total phenols (-0.967**), Titrable acidity (-0.946**) and Vitamin C (-0.968**) were negatively correlated with pest population.