Vol. 11, Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Nareshkumar E Jayewar

Abstract:
A survey experiment to assess the status of major pest of chilli in Marathwada region was conducted during 2016 in all major chilli growing areas. During the survey field were selected randomly and the same field is visited twice in a season to record the infestation of pest. For this purpose fields were sampled from each Taluka by taking it as unit for chilli growing areas following standard survey procedure i.e. Data on pest infestation was recorded from five random spots in each field selecting five random plant from it which can be representative of all the cropped area for sucking pests and fruit borer. It is observed that thrips population was ranged between 1.84 thrips/ leaf (Bhokardan tahasil) to 8.68 thrips/ leaf (Dharmabad tahasil). This suggests the moderate to high thrips infestation on chilli was recorded in Marathwada. The whitefly population across all location was ranged between 2.18 whiteflies/leaf to 5.68 whiteflies/leaf. Least infestation was observed in Latur district in Renapur tahasil and it’s peak was noticed in Nanded district in Dharmabad tahasil. Aphid incidence was noticed in this region, but was confined to Parbhani, Hingoli and Nanded districts only and in all other region it was completely absent in both season and ranged from 0.00 to 8.64. Mites infestation on chilli was uniform in all locations and it was also noticed at later stage of the crop in the seasons and it was ranged in between 2.02 to 8.86. In case of fruit borer very less infestation i.e.0.00 to 1.80 larvae/ plant was recorded during 2016.