Influence of weather parameters on the infestation of brinjal shoot and fruit borer

摘要

The fruit and shoot borer (FSB), Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee is a key pest of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) and causes significant damage to the crop at all growth stages (Patnaik et. al, 2010) with yield loss potentiality up to 90 % (Baral et al, 2006). The crop is grown throughout the year in different seasons. Hence, the infestation level of it does not remain same for all seasons of the year. Moreover, there also prevails variation of population among different meteorological weeks within a particular season. Being an internal borer, prior management action is very much useful in terms of its efficacy and economics. Location specific knowledge on population builds up of FSB in relation to major weather parameters in or in between seasons wouldenhance its better management. Hence, the present work was aimed to find out the seasonal variation of FSB and its relation with weather parameters (temperature, rainfall and humidity) during autumn-winter season.