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Biodiversity of flea beetles in different agro-ecological zones of Kashmir

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Title Biodiversity of flea beetles in different agro-ecological zones of Kashmir
 
Creator Rather, Bashir Ahmad
 
Contributor Mir, G.M.
 
Subject Diversity, flea beetles, cruciferous vegetables, Phyllotreta striolata, infestation, severity and population dynamics
 
Description Standard survey of flea beetles in different crops with special reference to
cruciferous vegetables was undertaken during 2012 and 2013 in different agroecological regions of Kashmir viz., Southern zone (Anantnag, Kulgam and Pulwama), Central zone (Budgam, Ganderbal and Srinagar) and Northern zone
(Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara). Twenty seven sites with three from each
district were selected for the study to determine the current status of flea beetle
damage. The results revealed that the cruciferous crops recorded moderate to severe
infestation during their entire growing season. Thetwo cruciferous crops which were
selected for the studies include the abundantly grown Kale (Brassica oleraceae L.
var. acephala) and Turnip (Brassica rapaL.). The infestation was recorded at two
phenological stages i.e. cotyledonary and true leaf stage which revealed highest
infestation at former as compared to latter, irrespective of locations and zones. The
seasonal activity of the pest started in the secondfortnight of March and continued
up to October. The results revealed that a total of four flea beetle species were
recorded on these crops which include Psylliodes tenebrosus Jacoby, Phyllotreta
striolata (Fabricius), another different Psylliodes sp. Indet. 1 and Altica himensis
Shukla. Phyllotreta striolata was observed the most predominant species accounting
for 57.88 per cent on kale and 78.68 per cent on turnip during the entire growing
season. The pooled data of two year study revealed the highest mean per cent
infestation, severity, number of flea beetle catches/sweep on turnip as compared on
kale irrespective of different locations, districtsand zones. The infestation recorded
on kale revealed that district Anantnag and Kupwararecorded the highest (34.00%)
and the lowest (18.71%) mean infestation at cotyledonary stage and also at true leaf
stage with highest (18.39%) and lowest (8.49%) infestation, respectively. Average
number of flea beetle catches per sweep was also observed highest in district
8
Anantnag (4.56 beetles/sweep) and lowest in district Kupwara (2.12 beetles/sweep).
The mean percent infestation, severity and number of flea beetle catches/sweep vary
significantly from April to October among all the three zones during both the years
of study. The Southern zone recorded highest mean infestation, severity and average
number of beetle catches/sweep followed by Central and Northern zones, however,
the extent of damage recorded was higher during 2012 as compared to 2013. In case
of turnip, the highest (70.11%) infestation was recorded in district Anantnag and
lowest (59.58%) in Srinagar followed by 60.50 % in Kupwara district. The highest
severity (30.04 %) of foliage damage on kale was recorded in district Anantnag and
lowest (18.56 %) in Kupwara district. Similarly, in turnip the highest severity of
foliage damage (58.84%) was recorded in district Kulgam and the lowest (47.22%)
in Srinagar district. During the entire growing season of two years a total of 10982
numbers of flea beetles were collected on the kale.The order of relative abundance
was observed as Phyllotreta striolata > Psylliodes tenebrosus > Altica himensis >
Psylliodes sp. Indet.1 in all the three zones. The values of diversity index varied
from 1.04 to 1.10, evenness index from 0.75 to 0.79and richness index from 1.46 to
1.70 amongst all the districts during 2012 while for 2013 values of diversity,
evenness and richness indices ranged from 1.01 to 1.17, 0.72 to 0.84 and 1.63 to 1.95
respectively, depicting that the diversity indices varied evenly amongst the selected
sites. Similarly a total of 5761 specimens of flea beetles were collected on the turnip
crop during 2012 and 2013. The relative abundance of different flea beetle species
observed was comparatively similar in all zones. The order of relative abundance
was observed as Phyllotreta striolata > Altica himensis > Psylliodes tenebrosus. The
values of diversity indices varied from 0.62 to 0.74, evenness index from 0.57 to
0.68 and richness index from 0.49 to 0.53 amongst all the zones. Solanaceous
vegetables like potato, brinjal and capscicum observed less than 10% infestation
during their entire growing season and a different species of Psylliodes sp. Indet. 2
was recorded along with Altica himensison these crops. The other cruciferous crops
like cabbage, cauliflower and Knolkhol were equallysusceptible to the flea beetle
infestation as kale during cotyledonary stage as compared to true leaf stage. Visual
observations revealed that Altica himensisinhabit certain weeds viz., Rumex sps and
Impatienes glandulifera during the growing season and then shift and attack apple,
apricot and grapes thereby causing severe defoliation. Thus, flea beetles are
significant pests of cruciferous crops and cause damage to them throughout their
growing season. Their damage is also an alarming concern on different crops and
thus needs further studies to determine action threshold and sound management
strategies, to devise an IPM module for the pest
 
Date 2016-08-19T10:26:09Z
2016-08-19T10:26:09Z
2015
 
Type Thesis
 
Identifier http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/72945
 
Language en
 
Format application/pdf
 
Publisher SKUAST