Vol. 11, Special Issue 11 (2022)

Author(s):
Roopam Kunwar, Chenesh Patel, RM Srivastava, Khanika Pal and Anil Rana

Abstract:
The current study was carried out at the Vegetable Research Centre of GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, during the Rabi season of 2020-21, on the seasonal dynamics of thrips (Thrips palmi) on potato (cv. Kufri Surya). Thrips populations were initially noted in the 46^th Standard Week, with a population density of 4.33 thrips per plant, and peaked during the 48^th SW (10.63 thrips per plant) and 49^th SW (10.63 thrips per plant) (12.40 thrips per plant). Correlation research revealed that maximum temperature has a positive relationship with thrips population; however relative humidity (maximum and minimum) has a negative relationship. The key weather elements analysed collectively generated a 74.8 per cent variation in the thrips population (R² value). Understanding these periodic variations should help potato farmers plan their IPM tactics and move away from calendar-based pesticide use.