Population dynamics of major insect pests and their natural enemies in broccoli Sharma Devinder1,*, Singh Subhash, Kaul V., Suheel Hafeez Ahmad, Ganai A., Kumar Manoj2 1Division of Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Jammu FOA - Main Campus, Chatha, Jammu, 180009, J&K 2Division of Vegetable Science, FOA - Main Campus, Chatha, Jammu, 180009, J&K *Email: devskuastj@gmail.com
Online published on 4 January, 2018. Abstract Study was conducted at the University Research Farm, Division of Entomology, Main Campus Chatha, Jammu during 2014–15 to ascertain the diversity of insect pests, natural enemies and their incidence in broccoli. Thirty four species of insect visitors were recorded at different growth stages. Among the insect pests, cabbage butterfly, Pieris brassicae (L.), mustard sawfly, Athalia lugens proxima Klug, and cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) were the most serious causing considerable damage. The climatic conditions played a vital role in the incidence and multiplication of all the insect pests. Multiple regression coefficient of determination (R2) established that abiotic parameters contributed 92.5, 84.4 and 92.5% variation in the population of P. brassicae, A. lugens proxima and B. brassicae, respectively. Top Keywords Broccoli, insect pests, diversity, pest complex, natural enemies, seasonal incidence, aphid, sawfly and butterfly, abiotic factors. Top |