Seasonal Incidence of Major Insect Pests of Apple in Mid Hills of Meghalaya

Indian Journal of Entomology 83(2021) Online published Ref. No. e20110 DoI No.: 10.5958/0974-8172.2020.00204.7

SEASONAL INCIDENCE OF MAJOR INSECT PESTS OF APPLE IN MID HILLS OF MEGHALAYA

Debanand Biswas* and N S Azad Thakur

School of Crop Protection, College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences (CPGSAS), Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Umroi Road, Umiam 793103, Meghalaya *(Current Address: Department of Entomology, RPCAU, Pusa 848125, Bihar *Email: [email protected] (corresponding author)

ABSTRACT

Seasonal incidence of major insect pests of apple in mid hills of Meghalaya was evaluated during 2018 at the Experimental farm of CPGSAS, Umiam, Meghalaya. A total of 43 insect species were observed. The major ones include- green apple aphid Aphis pomi De Geer, pale tussock moth Calliteara pudibunda L., tussock moth Euproctis guttata Collenette, giant looper Ascotis selenaria Denis and Schiffermuller and cocoa tussock moth Orgyia postica Walker. Also, 21 species were observed as minor pests, ten species as natural enemies, two species as pollinators and five species as occasional visitors. Results revealed that the aphid incidence is at its peak (34.75 aphids/ 10cm apical length of twig/shoot/plant) on the 25th SMW (standard meteorological week) (3rd week of June 2018). Such a peak of pale tussock moth larval incidence (3.82 larva/ plant) was during 28th SMW (2nd week of July). Likewise, the tussock moth larval incidence (4.15 larvae/ plant) was its peak on the 35th SMW (last week of August). The giant looper was at its peak (3.46 larvae/ plant) in the 28th SMW (2nd week of July). The cocoa tussock moth incidence was at the maximum of 4.75 larvae/ plant on the 26th SMW (27th June). Correlation coefficients (r) indicated significant correlation between the incidence of green apple aphid with maximum temperature; and larval incidence of tussock moth and cocoa tussock moth exhibiting a significant correlation with minimum temperature. Regression analysis done herein will provide the impact of independent variables on the dependent variables.

Key words: Apple, insects, pests, diversity, seasonal incidence, major, minor pests, natural enemies, green apple aphid, lepidopterans, peaks in incidence, weather factors, correlation

Apple (Malus sylvestris Mill.) is an important many insect pests, and evaluation of their seasonal temperate fruit crop which belongs to the family of incidence, especially the major pests is useful for Rosaceae and originated in Central Asia. In India, it development of IPM programmes. Basannagari and is mostly grown in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Kala (2013) suggested that the pest attack on apple Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim can be considered as the indicators of climate change. and Nagaland. India ranks fifth in terms of apple Westigard and Madsen (1965), Kumari and Gautam production with production of 2.2 mt and yield of (2007) and Gupta and Tara (2015) brought out the 7.4t/ ha (FAOSTAT, 2018). North East region is the fact that aphid incidence attains its peak during early sixth megacentre for rich plant- biodiversity, and it is a June and July. Khan and Shah (2018) revealed that natural home of origin of many important horticultural relative humidity had a positive, and rainfall with a crops. Arunachal Pradesh is the only leading state in negative relationship with its incidence. Mazzoglio et this region suitable for apple cultivation (Anonymous, al. (2005) monitored the pale tussock moth from June 2018). Low productivity of apple in this region is due to to September and peak flight was observed during the biotic and abiotic stresses, of which insects pests are July and reaches zero during September. Gokturk and important. Around 400 species of insects are associated Aksu (2005) observed that pale tussock moth larvae directly or indirectly with apple. Approximately 100 were present in the forest trees of Turkey from May species feed on the apple tree or fruit. More than 40 to October and peak flight of adults was during late species are economically important and ten species are June. Tikoca et al. (2016) correlated the incidence of serious pests (Teparkum, 2000). Calliteara sp. with weather parameters and revealed that there existed a positive correlation with maximum and Weather factors heavily influence the lifecycle of minimum temperature, and a negative one with relative 2 Indian Journal of Entomology 83(2021) Online published Ref. No. e20110 humidity and rainfall. Gupta and Tara (2014) found that these tagged plants during 2018. Selected plants were the peak infestation of tussock moth (Euproctis guttata) kept free from insecticidal treatments. The prevalence was during September; and its incidence had a positive of adult or larvae/ plant was observed. Aphids were correlation with temperature and relative humidity counted as total number in 10 cm apical length of the whereas rainfall had no significant effect. Singh and twig/ shoot/ plant. Data were recorded from 13th to Bhandari (2010) revealed that giant looper population 42nd SMW (standard meteorological week). Weather was present in sal forest of Uttrakhand from April to parameters viz. rainfall (mm), morning and evening August and its peak was during June- July. Chandra relative humidity (%), maximum and minimum et al. (2018) studied the seasonal incidence of cocoa temperature (0C) were obtained from the meteorological tussock moth (Orgyia postica) in apple and observed section of Agricultural Engineering Division of ICAR that its peak incidence was during early June. Gaikwad Research complex for North Eastern Hills Region, et al. (2018) revealed that population of Orgyia sp. was Umiam, Meghalaya. Correlation coefficients (r) were negatively and significantly related with maximum and worked out relating pest incidence with the weather minimum temperature, and a non- significant correlation parameters, and linear regression was also worked was found with rainfall and relative humidity. This out and fitted to exhibit the influence of independent study evaluates the seasonal incidence of major insect variables on dependent ones. pests of apple and explores their population dynamics. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION MATERIALS AND METHODS Seasonal incidence of major insect pests of apple The study was conducted at the experimental farm viz., green apple aphid (Aphis pomi De Geer), pale of CPGSAS, Umiam, Meghalaya (5040’N - 91054’ tussock moth (Calliteara pudibunda L.), tussock moth E, 1000 masl). Climatic condition in this area is of (Euproctis guttata Collenette), giant looper (Ascotis mid tropical zone with maximum temperature ranging selenaria Denis and Schiffermuller) and cocoa tussock from 28 to 330C and minimum temperature from 2 to moth (Orgyia postica Walker) obtained are analysed 40C and with an average rainfall of 2000 mm. Nine in terms of peaks in seasonal incidence (Fig. 1). The plants of low chilling apple variety ‘Gale Gala’ were correlation/ regression analyses with weather factors randomly selected from the stock brought from Dr. viz., evening and morning relative humidity (%), Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and maximum and minimum temperature (0C), and rainfall Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. These were planted (mm) are depicted in Table 1 and Figs. 2-4. in the experimental farm of College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, CAU (Imphal), The incidence of aphid was observed first on 13th Umiam, Meghalaya during January 2017 with row SMW i.e. last week of March with 1.74 aphids/ 10 cm spacing of 4 and 4 m between the plants and tagged. apical length/ shoot/ plant. It increased and attained Weekly observations of insect pests were made from peak on 25th SMW i.e. 3rd week of June with 34.75

Green apple aphid Pale tussock moth Giant looper Tussock moth Cocoa tussock moth 40 5 35

4 plantlarvae/ ofNo. 30 25 3 20 2 15 10 1 5 0 0

No. of aphid/ 10cm twig/ shoot/ plant shoot/ twig/ 10cm aphid/ of No. -5 13 18 23 28 33 38 -1 Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) Fig. 1. Seasonal incidence of major insect pests of apple (2018) Seasonal incidence of major insect pests of apple in mid hills of Meghalaya 3 Debanand Biswas and N S Azad Thakur

Table 1. Correlation coefficients - incidence of major pests in apple vs. weather factors

Relative humidity (%) Temperature (°C) Rainfall Pest Evening Morning Maximum Minimum (mm) Green apple aphid 0.255 0.203 0.389* 0.351 -0.014 Pale tussock moth -0.248 -0.006 0.414 0.425 -0.344 Tussock moth 0.231 -0.102 0.426 0.560* 0.388 Giant looper -0.006 0.460 -0.025 0.250 0.067 Cocoa tussock moth 0.148 0.337 0.286 0.450* -0.099 *Significant (p=0.05); rest NS- non significant

40 y = 1.699x - 28.66 30 R² = 0.151 20

10 shoot/ plant shoot/ 0 aphids per 10cm twig/ twig/ 10cm per aphids

Mean no. Mean of green apple 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Maximum temperature (°C) Fig. 2. Linear regression - green apple aphid vs. temperature (maximum)

4 y = 0.317x - 4.244 3 R² = 0.313

No. of larvae/plant 0 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Minimum temperature (°C) Fig. 3. Linear regression - tussock moth incidence vs. temperature (minimum)

4 y = 0.240x - 2.479 R² = 0.202 3

larvae/ plant larvae/ 2

1 No. of 0 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Minimum Temperature (°C) Fig. 4. Linear regression - cocoa tussock moth incidence vs. temperature (minimum) 4 Indian Journal of Entomology 83(2021) Online published Ref. No. e20110 aphids/ 10cm apical length/ shoot/ plant. Subsequently, tussock moth and minimum temperature showed it declined to 1.68 aphids/ 10 cm apical length/ shoot/ positively significant correlation (r = 0.560*). These plant on the 38th SMW (3rd week of September). No findings are also in conformity with the findings of incidence was observed after 38th SMW. These findings Gupta and Tara (2014) as regards minimum temperature are in close proximity with the results obtained by and rainfall. Westigard and Madsen (1965) and Kumari and Gautam The larval incidence of giant looper was observed (2007). Present findings are also in agreement with first on 19th SMW i.e. 2nd week of May (0.09 larva/ Gupta and Tara (2015) who concluded that the aphid plant). The maximum of this was noticed on 28th incidence reached peak during late June. Correlation SMW (2nd week of July- 3.46 larva/ plant) and the coefficients revealed that the association between aphid least of 0.06 larva/ plant during 35th SMW (last week incidence and evening and morning RH and minimum of August). These observations are like those of Singh temperature was non-significant and positive (r = and Bhandari (2010) on its seasonal incidence in sal 0.255, r = 0.203 and r = 0.351, respectively). There forest of Uttarakhand showing a peak during June - July. was a non-significant negative correlation (r = -0.014) The incidence was observed non-significantly related with rainfall, and significantly positive correlation (r to weather factors- a positive non-significant one with = 0.389*) with maximum temperature. These findings morning RH, minimum temperature and rainfall (r agree with those of Khan and Shah (2018) with regard = 0.460, r = 0.250 and r = 0.067, respectively), and to relative humidity and maximum temperature. negative non-significant one with evening RH (r = Caterpillars of pale tussock moth were first observed -0.006) and maximum temperature (r = -0.025). th st during 18 SMW (1 week of May) with 0.75 larva/ About cocoa tussock moth, its incidence was first th plant and maximum incidence was on 28 SMW i.e. noticed on 17th SMW (last week of April) with 0.54 nd 2 week of July (3.82 larva/ plant). The least incidence larva/ plant, and it attained peak during 26th SMW (last nd (0.98 larva/ plant) was during 37 SMW (2 week of week of June- 4.75 larva/ plant) and the least incidence September). These findings are in close conformity with of 0.47 larva/ plant was observed during the 37th SMW the results obtained by Mazzoglio et al. (2005). Gokturk (2nd week of September). These results are in accordance and Aksu (2005) also revealed that its peak incidence with the results obtained by Chandra et al. (2018) who was in late June. Correlation coefficients with weather observed its peak incidence during early June. A positive parameters showed a positive non significant correlation and significant correlation (r = 0.450*) was observed with the maximum and minimum temperature (r = with minimum temperature, and a positive non- 0.414 and r = 0.425, respectively) and non significant significant one with evening RH (r = 0.148), morning negative correlation with evening and morning RH (r RH (r = 0.337) and maximum temperature (r = 0.286); = -0.248 and r = -0.006, respectively) and rainfall (r and it was a negative non-significant one with rainfall = -0.344). These findings are in accordance with the (r = -0.099). These results are in contradiction with the results obtained by Tikoca et al. (2016) on Calliteara results obtained by Gaikwad et al. (2018), as it was sp. in Fijian forest with temperature, rainfall and relative observed to be significantly correlated with minimum humidity. temperature in cauliflower. Larvae of tussock moth were first observed during Seasonal incidence of the major insect pests of apple 26th SMW (last week of June- 0.42 larva/ plant) with revealed that the incidence of green apple aphid was peak being on 35th SMW (last week of August- 4.15 observed from 13th to 38th SMW, 2018 with a peak on larva/ plant) and the least values of 0.2 larva/ plant 25th SMW (34.75 aphids/ 10 cm apical length of twig/ being in 42nd SMW (3rd week of October). These results shoot/ plant). Tussock moth incidence was seen from are in agreement with the findings of Gupta and Tara 26th to 42nd SMW with its peak of 4.15 larvae/ plant (2014), who observed its peak incidence during August in the 35th SMW. Cocoa tussock moth was observed in Himachal Pradesh. The relationship between larval from 19th to 35th SMW with a maximum of 3.46 larvae/ incidence with weather parameters indicated a positive plant on the 28th SMW. Incidence of green apple aphid, non significant relationship with the evening RH (r = tussock moth and cocoa tussock moth was observed 0.231), maximum temperature (r = 0.426) and rainfall to have a significant correlation with weather factors, (r = 0.388) and negative non significant correlation of which maximum and minimum temperature are the with morning RH (r = -0.102). The association between most important. Seasonal incidence of major insect pests of apple in mid hills of Meghalaya 5 Debanand Biswas and N S Azad Thakur

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Gupta R, Tara J S. 2014. First report on the infestation dynamics of Euproctis Sp. (Lepidoptera: Lymantridae) on apple (Malus The authors thank the guidance, support and facilities Domestica Borkh) and its relation with important weather factors provided by the School of Crop Protection, College of in Jammu, India. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2(5): 285-288. Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Umiam, Gupta R, Tara J S. 2015. Life history of Aphis pomi De Geer (Green Barapani; and Division of Crop Protection, Entomology, apple aphid) on apple plantations in Jammu province, J&K, India. ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Meghalaya. Munis Entomology and Zoology 10(2): 388- 391. Khan A A, Shah M A. 2018. Population dynamics of green apple aphid REFERENCES Aphis Pomi De Geer (Homoptera: aphididae) and its natural Anonymous. 2018. Horticultural statistics at a glance 2018. Horticulture enemies in apple orchard of Kashmir. Indian Journal of Entomology Statistics Division. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, 80(2): 320-329. Government of India. 173 p. http://agricoop.nic.in/sites/default/ Kumari M, Gautam D C. 2007. Studies on the morphs, life history and files/Horticulture%20Statistics%20at%20a%20Glance-2018.pdf. behaviour of green apple aphid, Aphis pomi De Geer on apple host Accessed 5.06.2020. in India. Polish Journal of Entomology 76(2): 119-141. Basannagari B, Kala C P. 2013. Climate change and apple farming in Mazzoglio P J, Paoletta M, Patetta A, Currado I. 2005. Calliteara Indian Himalayas: a study of local perceptions and responses. pudibunda (Lepidoptera Lymantriidae) in Northwest Italy. Bulletin PLoS One 8 (10): 1-6. of Insectology 58(1): 25-34. Chandra A, Firake D M, Behere G T, Singh B, Srivastava A, Rymbai Singh K P, Bhandari R S. 2010. Seasonal abundance of sal defoliator, H. 2018. Cacao tussock moth Orgyia australis postica Walker in Ascotis seleneria Denis and Schiffermuller (Lepidoptera: Northeast India and its molecular characterisation. Indian Journal Geometridae). Annals of Forestry 18(2): 303-310. of Entomology 80(3): 1217-1220. Teparkum S. 2000. Interaction between insects and apple (Malus FAOSTAT. 2018. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Domestica Borkh.): Insect behavior, genotypic preference, and plant Nations database. http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC phenolics with emphasis on Japanese beetle (Popillia Japonica Accessed 23.03.2020. Newman). Ph.D. Thesis. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Gaikwad A D, Bhede B V, Bokan S C, Bhosle B B. 2018. Seasonal University, Blacksburg, Virginia. incidence of major insect pests, natural enemies on cauliflower and Tikoca S, Hodge S, Pene S, Clayton J, Tuiwawa M, Brodie G. 2016. their correlation with weather parameters. Journal of Entomology Temporal variation in macro-moth abundance and species richness and Zoology Studies 6(5): 952-956. in a lowland Fijian forest. Pacific Science 70(4): 447-462. Gokturk T, Aksu B Y. 2005. Pests of forest areas: some research on Westigard P H, Madsen H F. 1965. Studies on the bionomics of summer the morphology, biology and developmental characteristics of generations in California of the apple aphid, Aphis pomi De Geer Calliteara pudibunda Linnaeus (Lepidoptera; Lymantriidae). (Homoptera: Aphididae). Canadian Entomologist 97(10): 1107- Orman Muhendisleri Odasi 43(7/9): 34-35. 1114.

(Manuscript Received: May, 2020; Revised: June, 2020. Accepted: June, 2020; Online Published: November, 2020) Online published (Preview) in www.entosocindia.org Ref. No. 20110