Ishfaq Majeed Shah, Abdul Rouf Wani, Umer Bin Farook, Mohmmad Aasif Sheikh, Peerzada Tabish Fayaz, Zuhaib Farooq, Mohammad Saleem Bhat and Shabnum Mumtaz
Abstract
A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between weather parameters and the population dynamics of the Brinjal shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) in Baramula District of North Kashmir, India. Observations from all the three locations, including Wadura, Arampura and Delina, revealed that the first male moth of L. orbonalis was captured during the 24th Standard Week (SW). During the 34th Standard Week (SW), the moth population increased progressively, reaching its highest levels of 5.33, 5.66 and 4.33 moths per trap at Wadura, Arampura, and Delina, respectively, before declining to negligible levels by the final week of September. The correlation analysis between the pest population and abiotic factors showed a notable and significant positive correlation with minimum temperature, with values of 0.471, 0.474 and 0.468 at the three locations, respectively. The correlations with maximum temperature (r = 0.410, 0.412 and 0.406), rainfall (r = 0.042, 0.065 and 0.041), and evening relative humidity (r = 0.439, 0.442 and 0.431) were positive but not statistically significant. On the other hand, morning relative humidity displayed a negative but non-significant correlation (r = -0.152, -0.164 and -0.156). Multiple regression analysis indicated that minimum temperature (41.54 %, 52.80 % and 47.75 %) was the most significant factor driving the pest population increase, followed by evening relative humidity (23.38 %, 25.52 % and 27.73 %). However, morning relative humidity had a negligible effect on the pestâs population dynamics.