Regression Equation Model for Brinjal Pests (Solanum melongena L.) in Maharashtra Plain Zone

An experiment “Effect of weather parameters on growth, yield and insect pest infestation on brinjal varieties under different planting windows” was carried out at Faculty of Agriculture Department of Agricultural Meteorology Farm, Centre for Advanced Agricultural Meteorology, College of Agriculture, Pune during Kharif seasons of 2014 and 2015. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatment comprised of three brinjal hybrids viz., V1:Phule Arjun, V2: Krishna, V3: Panchganaga as main plot and four planting windows viz., P1: 31st MW (30 July-5 August), P2: 32ndMW (6-12 August), P3:33rdMW (13-19 August) and P4: 34thMW (20-26 August) as sub plot treatments.

The correlation of meteorological parameters with incidence of brinjal shoot and fruit borer was studied in 2014. The correlation of shoot and fruit borer on brinjal (0.764*and 0.796*) and (0.784* and 0.704*) with the weather parameters are presented. Whereas morning relative humidity, rainfall and bright sunshine hours showed positive correlation with shoot and fruit borer population Average number of aphids/ jassid/ whiteflies plant showed highly significant negative correlation with minimum temperature(r= -0.702*,-0.710* and 0-.800*,) respectively. During 31stMW planting windows maximum temperature showed significant negative correlation with shoot and fruit borer population(r= -0.796*).It was observed that the infestation of shoot and fruit borer started increasing from October to November and its decreased onwards meteorological week.

Amongst all the brinjal hybrids, Phule Arjun hybrids found significantly superior under extended planting windows followed by Krishna and Panchganga. Planting during 31st MW (1st week of August) was observed to be most suitable and optimum for brinjal considering the growth and yield attributes. This planting window was at par with 32nd MW planting window. Linear correlation analysis for brinjal fruit yield with weather parameters was significantly positively correlated with maximum temperature and minimum temperature.

Timely planting during 31st MW (P1) and 32nd (P2) recorded lower incidence of shoot and fruit borer, aphids, jassid and whiteflies. Whereas, crop planted during 34thMW (P4) recorded maximum incidence of all pests. Among the brinjal hybrids, higher incidence was recorded with Panchganaga and minimum was recorded on Phule Arjun.

Among the brinjal hybrids lower incidence of shoot and fruit borer, aphids, jassids and whiteflies was recorded on hy. Phule Arjun, which was found to be tolerant. This was followed by hy. Krishna. The higher incidence of all pests was recorded hy. Panchganga, which was found to be susceptible. Pest population on brinjal shoot/fruit/Aphid/Jassid/Whiteflies had significant negative correlation with minimum temperatures, whereas, morning and evening relative humidity, wind speed, pan evaporation and bright sunshine hours showed positive correlation pests population.