20249-- Kaur J

Indian Journal of Entomology 83(2021) Online published Ref. No. e20249 DoI No.: 10.5958/0974-8172.2021.00051.1

SEASONAL INCIDENCE OF BORER COMPLEX IN

*Kaur J and Sangha K S

Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, Punjab, India *Email: [email protected] (corresponding author)

ABSTRACT

The studies on incidence of sugarcane borers were observed in sugarcane from April to February during two crop seasons i.e. 2016-17 and 2017-18 at the four locations of Punjab i.e. Gurdaspur, SBS Nagar, Patiala and Fazilka. The early shoot borer was observed from April to June at all the locations, after which it declined. Correlation coefficients of weather parameters with incidence revealed positive

significant correlation with Tmax and T min whereas it is negative highly significant with RH; and negative and insignificantly correlated with rainfall. At Gurdaspur, the incidence of the top borer varied from 0 to 35.00. At SBS Nagar, incidence first appeared (10.00%) in May 2016, reaching a maximum (45.00%) during September 2017; while at Patiala, the top borer started in June 2016 (15.00%), and reached its maximum during September 2016 (27.50 %). However, no activity of top borer was observed during winter. In case of stalk borer, the incidence was observed from September to February with negligible or no activity during March to August.

Key words: Early shoot borer, sugarcane, op borer, stalk borer, weather parameters

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarumL.) is a perennial design (500 m2) was followed with three replications grass belonging to family . It is cultivated following row spacing of 90 cm, with variety COJ 88. in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the The crop was kept free from insecticides but other world. Sugarcane by virtue of its growth provides recommended agronomic practices were followed homogenous agroecosystem, serving as shelter and (Anonymous, 2016). Observations were made at food for (Chaudhary, 2008). Weather factors fortnightly intervals, with incidence evaluated on the affect the availability of food resources which in turn basis of nature of damage/ symptom- C. infuscatellus triggers the seasonal activity of pests. In India, was observed starting from April up to June, with nearly 228 pests are known on sugarcane (David and counts of deadheart in 20 canes/ location; % incidence Nandagopal, 1986), and of these borers are serious of S. excerptalis observed based on deadhearts, red causing crop losses (Sharma et al., 2011). These insect streak on the leaf, shot hole and presence of ‘bunchy pests occur during different phenological cycles of tops’; and that of auricilius on the basis of exit sugarcane (Suasa-ard et al., 2009). Amongst borers, holes in canes. From these % incidence was calculated early shoot borer, Snellen; top on deadheart basis. Data on weather parameter such borer Scirpophaga excerptalis Walker and stalk borer as temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall was Chilo auricilius Dudgeon are the major pests (Patil and obtained for the different locations from Department Hapase, 1981; Madan et al., 1999; Singh et al., 1973). of Agrometeorology, Punjab Agricultural University, Weather factors play a vital role in the population Ludhiana. Correlation coefficients of incidence with buildup of insect pests. Hence, knowledge of population weather factors were worked out. dynamics in relation to weather factors is essential for developing IPM strategies. The present study evaluates RESULTS AND DISCUSSION the population dynamics of sugarcane borers in Punjab Incidence of C. infuscatellus at Gurdaspur varied at four locations. varied from 0 to 40.00% (Fig. 1), and at SBS Nagar, th MATERIALS AND METHODS 15.00% deadhearts was noticed during April 2016 (15 SMW) reaching peak in May 2017 (20th SMW- 35.00%); The field experiments were conducted during at this time maximum and minimum temperature, RH seasonal planting in 2016-17 and 2017-18 at farmer’s ranged from 38.4 to 23.9 °C, 46.6% respectively, with fields at four districts of Punjab viz. Gurdaspur, rainfall of 46.2 mm (Fig. 2). At Patiala, it varied from SBS Nagar, Patiala and Fazilka. Randomized block 0 to 20.00% with peak during June (24th SMW) (Fig. 2 Indian Journal of Entomology 83(2021) Online published Ref. No. e20249

Rf (mm) T (°C)max TB SB T (°C)min RH (%) ESB 45 300 40 250 35

30 200 25 150 20 15 100 10 RH RH (%), RF(mm) 5 50 0 0 % dead hearts, shot holes, bunchy tops -5 Meterological parameters, Temperature, July July May June May June April April August August January January

-10 October October -50 February February December December November November September September

2016 2017 2018

Fig. 1. Incidence of sugarcane borers vs. weather factors- Gurdaspur

Rf (mm) ESB TB SB T (°C)max T (°C)min RH 45 400 40 350 35 300 30 25 250 20 200 15 150 10 100 5 50 Temperature,parameters, 0 -5 0 RH (%), RF(mm) July July -10 May June May June -50 April April August August January January October October February February December December November November September September Meterological % dead hearts, shot holes, bunchy tops

2016 2017 2018

Fig. 2. Incidence of sugarcane borers vs. weather factors- SBS Nagar

3), and at Fazilka, it varied from 0.00 to 35.00% (Fig. Vijay Laxmi (2014) reported its incidence from first 4). Correlation coefficients revealed a positive and week of May (18th SMW) to second week of July (27th significant correlation with T max and T min whereas it SMW) with its peak activity during May. is negative highly significant with RH, and negative non-significant one with rainfall (Table 1). These Incidence of S. excerptalis at Gurdaspur varied observations are in accordance with those of Bhawar from 0 to 35.00% and at SBS Nagar, first appeared th et al. (2015) as regards seasonal incidence with peak (10.00%) during May 2016 (20 SMW), with maximum th being during 13th to 14th SMW. The pest seemed to be (45.00%) being during September 2017 (37 SMW) completely inactive during October-November due to when maximum and minimum temperature, RH ranged low temperature and high RH (86.9-90.2%) and heavy from 33.3 to 22.0°C, 80.0% respectively, with rainfall rainfall (198.8-314.3 mm) (Varadharajan et al.,1971). of 197.4 mm (Fig. 1, 2); at Patiala, it appeared in June Seasonal incidence of borer complex in sugarcane 3 Kaur J and Sangha K S

Rf (mm) ESB TB SB T (°C)max T (°C)min RH

45 250 40 35 200 30 150 25 20 100 15 10 50 5 RH (%), Rf (mm) 0 0 -5 July July May May June June April April % dead hearts, shot holes, bunchy tops -10 -50 August August January January October October February February December December Meterological parameters Temperature (C), November November September September

2016 2017 2018 Fig. 3. Incidence of sugarcane borers vs. weather factors- Patiala Rf (mm) ESB TB SB T (°C ) max T (°C ) min RH

45 1200 40 1100 1000 35 900 30 800 25 700 600 20 500 15 400 10 300 200 5 100 RH RH (%), RF (mm) dead hearts, shot holes, bunchy bunchy holes, dead hearts, shot 0 0 % July July May May June June April April August August January January October October February February December December November November September September Meterological parameters Temperature (C),

2016 2017 2018

Fig. 4. Incidence of sugarcane borers vs. weather factors- Fazilka

Table 1. Correlation coefficients- borer incidence vs. weather factors Borer complex Temperature (°C) Relative Rainfall Temperature Relative Rainfall Maximum Minimum humidity (mm) Maximum Minimum humidity (mm) (%) (%) Gurdaspur SBS Nagar Early shoot *0.525638 0.2879 **-0.77038 -0.04991 *0.518727 0.298908 **-0.78665 -0.22199 borer Top borer **0.55192 **0.749155 0.322361 0.393099 **0.565442 **0.740061 *0.432889 **0.701776 Stalk borer -0.28741 -0.30183 0.298114 -0.41205 -0.40811 *-0.48295 0.169093 -0.41412 Patiala Fazilka Early shoot **0.63073 *0.428228 **-0.81054 -0.12558 0.357164 0.025583 **-0.57647 -0.26883 borer Top borer *0.441951 **0.73255 0.228709 **0.727755 0.176293 **0.766316 -0.37532 **0.57644 Stalk borer *-0.46203 **-0.56919 0.340271 *-0.5355 -0.40502 **-0.58886 0.253718 0.052323 *Significant at p=0.05; **Significant at p=0.01 4 Indian Journal of Entomology 83(2021) Online published Ref. No. e20249

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(Manuscript Received: July, 2020; Revised: September, 2020; Accepted: September, 2020; Online Published: February, 2021) Online published (Preview) in www.entosocindia.org Ref. No. 20249