Population dynamics of pod fly Melanagromyza obtusa in long duration pigeonpea Chiranjeevi B.1,*, Patange N.R.2 1Department of Research and Development, Threedathu Bio Products Pvt. Ltd., Peenya, Bangalore, 560058 2National Agricultural Research Project, Aurangabad, 431005 (VNMKV, Parbhani) *Email: chiranjeevib211@gmail.com
Online published on 5 February, 2019. Abstract To determine the impact of abiotic and biotic factors on population dynamics of Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch), investigations were undertaken in long duration pigeonpea, BSMR-736 during kharif 2015–16. Present studies revealed that the maggot, pupal and total (maggots + pupae) population had the highest peak of 125 maggots, 67 pupae and 192 pod flies (maggots + pupae) per 100 pods on 3rd standard meteorological week (SMW). During the same period pod and grain damage due to M. obtusa ranged from 09.00 to 93.00 and 03.00 to 52.13%; and was at its peak with 93.00 and 52.13% on 3rd SMW. During the investigation, four parasitoids i.e. Euderus sp., Torymus sp., Ormyrus sp. and Eurytoma sp. could be recorded on M. obtusa larvae and pupae. Analysis of abiotic factors relationship indicated significant strong negative correlation between maggot, pupal and total population vis-a-vis temperature (r =-0.8045, -0.7578 and-0.6585;-0.8988 and-0.8490, -0.6652; and-0.8647, -0.7513 and-0.7473). The natural maggot, pupal and total parasitism had ranged from 5.56 to 69.57, 13.79 to 50.00 and 10.64 to 56.14% and was at its peak on 5th (69.17%), 4th SMW (50.00%) and 05th SMW (56.14), respectively. The correlation matrix between maggot, pupal and total population of M. obtusa with their respective parasitism exhibited moderate to strong positive correlation. Top Keywords Melanagromyza obtusa, pigeon pea, long duration, abiotic and biotic factors, parasitism. Top |