INFLUENCE OF SEASONAL VARIATION ON INCIDENCE AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF WHITEFLY (Bemisia tabaci) ON BRINJAL

A field trial was carried out to study the influence of seasonal variation on the incidence of whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) on brinjal at Vallampadugai village during 2017 during the Rabi and Kharif seasons. Seasonal incidence of whitefly coincided with various vegetative stages and throughout the crop period. Correlation studies showed that temperature was positively correlated with the incidence of whiteflies, whereas rainfall and relative humidity were not-significant during January-April 2017 (First Season). During the second season, the temperature was positively correlated with whitefly numbers during the July-October 2017 period. Among all the meteorological factors, the maximum temperature played a significant role with (0.440) followed by minimum temperature (0.392). In the second season Brinjal crop significant positive correlation with temperature (0.378) and R.H (0.311) was recorded. In both seasons rainfall showed a significant negative relationship. However, whitefly incidence was lower during the first season (Rabi) compared to the second season (Khairf) due to variation in weather factors.