PJB-2023-582
POPULATION DYNAMICS OF INSECT FAUNA ASSOCIATED WITH BRINJAL CROP GROWN IN PERI-URBAN AGROECOSYSTEMS IN DISTRICT FAISALABAD
M azeem yousaf
Abstract
The present study investigated the population dynamics of the insect pests and their natural enemies of the Brinjal crop in the peri-urban agroecosystem of district Faisalabad. For this purpose, Brinjal crops were cultivated in nine different locations of district Faisalabad. At maturity of the crop, the healthy plants were selected for data collection. A field survey was conducted weekly in two locations from March 2022-2023. Results showed that the percent shoot damage caused by Brinjal shoot and fruit borer increased slowly until the 10th standard week and then started to decline. Similarly, the fruit damage also increased until the 12th standard week and then started to decline. The average number of Epilachna grubs per plant indicated their abundance starting from the sixth standard week until the 14th standard week. The damage decreased with decreasing number of grubs. The population of white flies started to increase during the mid-season of the crop (8th standard week) and continued in an increasing trend until the 16th standard week. The mealybug incidence was absent till the sixth standard week and started to increase thereafter. However, the peak incidence was reported only in the late season crop starting from the 13th standard week. The population of insects was analyzed using the Shannon diversity index. The highest and minimum diversity of insects was determined along with the maximum species evenness and richness in the Brinjal agroecosystem.
To Cite this article:
Download
