Population build-up and relative abundance of pod-borer complex in pre-rabi season pigeonpea

摘要

Field studies on population build-up and relative abundance of major pod borers viz., Maruca testulalis Geyer., Melanagromyza obtusa Mall., Apion clavipes Gerst, and Helicoverpa armigera Hb. on pre-rabi season pigeonpea cv. Sharad, were carried out in two crop seasons. The crop, throughout March, experienced the maximum biotic pressure due to the composite larval population of the various pod-borers. Among these borers, M. obtusa predominated numerically as well as functionally in both the years ofunder study, with its peak population (15.60 larvae/plant) in the last week of March, when the crop approached near maturity.