Studies on the Effect of Biotic and Abiotic Factors on Major Sucking Insect Pests of Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted during kharif seasons of 2023 and 2024 (July to October) at the Agronomy Instructional farm, Department of Entomology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, Rajasthan India to study the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the incidence of major insect pests of cowpea. The observations on population of aphid, whitefly, leaf hopper and pod borer were recorded soon after their appearance. The study on the seasonal incidence of major sucking insect pests in cowpea revealed that aphid, (A. craccivora), leaf hopper, (E. fabae) and whitefly, (B. tabaci) incidence started during the last week of July (30^th SMW), during both the year. The peak mean population of aphid, were recorded during the second week of September (37^th SMW) and the peak mean population of leaf hopper and whitefly were recorded during last week of August (34^th SMW), during kharif, 2023. The peak incidence of aphid, leaf hopper and whitefly were recorded during last week of August (34^th SMW), first week of September (36^th SMW) and second week of September (37^th SMW), respectively during kharif, 2024. All major sucking insect pests showed a negative significant correlation with morning relative humidity and leaf hopper showed a positive significant correlation with maximum temperature during kharif, 2023. The whitefly showed a negative significant correlation with maximum temperature and positive significant correlation with rain fall during kharif, 2024.