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 30^th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) with 2.01% infestation and peaked during the 38^th SMW with 25.99% shoot damage. Similarly, fruit infestation on a number basis started in the 33^rd SMW (5.93%) and reached a peak of 46.95% in the 40^th SMW. On a weight basis, fruit infestation followed the same pattern, beginning with 6.99% in the 33^rd SMW and increased to 47.90% on the 40^th 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.