22 Ara 2024 Pazar
An assessment on population density of San Jose scale Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock) and its biological control in Kashmir (Hemiptera: Diaspididae)
Abstract :San Jose scale Quadraspidiotus perniciosus is a key pest of apple crop in the northern states of India. An assessment on its population density was carried out in five districts of Kashmir Valley. In district Baramulla, the pooled mean scale population ranged from 10.29 per cm2 area to 37.32 /cm2 over the course of its active period from April to October. This population range was 10.74–36.45 scales /cm2 area in district Bandipora, 11.39–37.48 /cm2 area in district Srinagar, 10.22–35.57 /cm2 area in district Anantnag, and 10.14–33.72 /cm2 area in district Budgam. The efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi– Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato and Lecanicillium lecanii at three concentrationsagainstthe pest was examined in an experimental orchard. Mortality of the pest was monitored at 2-day intervals until 30 days after application and the maximum mortality was used for data analysis. All three fungal pathogens caused mortality of the pest particularly with the increase of treatment concentration. High mortality (77%) was determined with B. bassiana at 15 × 105 conidia /ml. concentration followed by L. lecanii at the same concentration (mortality 75%). However, M. anisopliae sensu lato was significantly less effective (mortality 53–68%) among the three concentrations tested during field trial. The results demonstrate the suitability of entomopathogenic fungi for controlling San Jose scale
Population density, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus, Hemiptera, Diaspididae, biological control