Study on the seasonal incidence of shoot and fruit borer (Earias vittella Fabricius) of okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Monech] and its correlation with weather factors

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “To study the seasonal incidence of okra shoot and fruit borer Earias vittella (Fab) and its correlation with weather parameters.” was conducted during Kharif 2024 at the experimental farm, Department of Entomology, Post Graduate Institute, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri. Observations on pest incidence revealed that shoot damage due to E. vittella commenced from the 30th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) with 2.01 per cent infestation and peaked during the 38th SMW with 25.99 per cent shoot damage. Similarly, fruit infestation on a number basis started in the 33rd SMW (5.93%) and reached a peak of 46.95 per cent in the 40th SMW. On a weight basis, fruit infestation followed the same pattern, beginning with 6.99 per cent in the 33rd SMW and increased to 47.90 per cent on the 40th SMW. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between shoot and fruit infestation and both minimum temperature (r = -0.567* for shoot, -0.685** for fruit infestation on number basis and r = -0.664** fruit infestation on weight basis) and evening relative humidity (r = -0.498* for shoot; -0.499* for fruit infestation on number as well as weight basis). Conversely, maximum temperature showed positively non-significant Whereas morning relative humidity and rainfall showed negatively non-significant correlations with pest incidence.