Biology of pink stem borer, Sesamia inferens (Walker) on maize, Zea mays

Biology of pink stem borer, Sesamia inferens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was conducted during 2015-16 in laboratories of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Karnal on HQPM 1 (hybrid) and HKI 1128 (inbred) for two generations at room temperature. Results on biology of S. inferens in the first generation revealed that incubation period varied from 10-14 days on HQPM 1 and 11-15 days on HKI 1128. The larval duration lasted for 21-37 days on HQPM 1 and 24-39 days on HKI 1128. The adult longevity of male and female ranged from 6-7 days and 7-8 days on HQPM 1 and 5-7 days and 6-7 days on HKI 1128, respectively. The total life span ranged from 63-72 days for female and 45-58 days for male on HQPM 1 and 65-74 days for female and 49-62 days for male on HKI 1128, respectively in the first generation. The total life span in second generation ranged 94-107 days for female and 83-96 days for male on HQPM 1 and 98-112 days for female and 86-101 days for male on HKI 1128. The biology of an insect pest is a condition precedent to find out its management strategies. The biology of S. inferens on maize has not yet been studied in north western part of the country. Having regards to the fact that no systematic work on this aspect has been carried out, studies were conducted on biology of this pest for developing efficient pest management strategies

Population dynamics of early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus Snellen on sugarcane as influenced by weather conditions

A field experiment on population dynamics of early shoot borer, Chilo infuscatellus Snellen on sugarcane was carried out during 2016-17 crop season at the research farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Karnal. Studies on population dynamics revealed thathighest incidence (3.81 per cent in CoH 160, 4.60 per cent in CoH 119 and 3.12 per cent in CoS 767) of C. infuscatellus was recorded during 24th SMW. Correlation of C. infuscatellus population with various environmental factors revealed that there was a significant positive correlation with maximum temperature (Tmax.) and had a non-significant and positive correlation with minimum temperature (Tmin.) and sun shine hours (SSH) (r= 0.513, 0.287 and 0.452) on CoH 160, (r= 0.504, 0.321 and 0.431) on CoH 119 and(r= 0.537, 0.276 and 0.445) on CoS 767, respectively whereas it has non-significant and negative correlation with relative humidity (morning), relative humidity (evening) andrainfall (r= -0.172, -0.206 and -0.147) on CoH 160, (r= -0.147, -0.172 and -0.130) on CoH 119 and(r= -0.187, -0.223 and -0.160) on CoS 767. Multiple regression analysis of C. infuscatellus population with weather parameters showed that there was 77 per cent (CoH 160), 75 per cent (CoH 119) and 76 per cent (CoS767) variability in dead heart formation due to various environmental factors. The population dynamics revealed by this study have far reaching significance in pest management strategy as integrated control measures may be focused only during the period wherein population exceeds economic threshold level (ETL)

Population dynamics of citrus whitefly, Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead) on Citrus reticulate (Mandarin) var. Kinnow as influenced by weather conditions

A field study on population dynamics of citrus whitefly, Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead) on citrus mandarin (var. Kinnow) was carried out during 2014-15 at Centre of Excellence (COE) for Fruits situated in village Mangiana of district Sirsa, Haryana. The population of nymphs and adults of this pest was recorded from March 2014 to February 2015 at weekly interval. The nymphal population of the pest was observed only between 12th to 47th meteorological standard weeks (SW) with two major peaks i.e. one during 16th SW with a population of 83.44 nymphs/ 20 leaves and the second during 40th SW with a population of 133.22 nymphs/20 leaves. The above said population dynamics confirmed that this pest remained inactive in pupal stage during winter i.e. 48th to 11th SW. Similar trend was observed in respect of adult population. Nymphal population showed significant positive correlation with morning relative humidity (r = 0.329) and sunshine hours (r = 0.362), while adult population was found to have positive correlation with sunshine hours only (r = 0.332). Multiple regression analysis of the pest population with environment variables indicated that out of 45 per cent variability in nymphal population, 37 per cent was due to relative humidity and sunshine hours. Out of the total variability of 30 per cent variation in adult population, 20 per cent was due to evening relative humidity, while 10 per cent attributed to sunshine hours. The other weather parameters were found to have no significant correlation with the pest population. Although study of population dynamics of this study were conducted elsewhere but this is first study of its kind in the state of Haryana. The population dynamics revealed by this study have far reaching significance in pest management strategy as integrated control measures may be focused only during the period wherein population exceeds economic threshold level (ETL). The information on population dynamics of any insect pest in a given ecological niche should be considered as starting point for evolving eco - friendly pest management package

Biology of citrus whitefly, Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead) on Citrus reticulate (Mandarin) var. Kinnow

Screen house studies on biology of citrus whitefly, Dialeurodes citri (Ashmead) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), were conducted during 2014-15 in screen house of Department of Entomology College of Agriculture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar on citrus mandarin (var. Kinnow). Results on biological studies of D. citri revealed that female on an average laid 151±42.99 eggs with an incubation period of 13.3±1.89 days. The mean duration of first, second and third instar nymphs were 13.1±1.77, 11.1±2.05 and 15.4±2.41 days, respectively. The pupal duration was 108.3±4.33 days. Adult Male lived for 16.5±1.96 days whereas adult female lived for 18.6±2.06 days. The male whitefly completed its life cycle in 178.8±6.73 days whereas the corresponding period for female whitefly was 180±7.02 days. This study established that biology of the insect is rather a stable trait because no significant variation was observed when compared with decade old reports despite the fact that agro-ecology including weather phenomenon have undergone significant change in the last decade

Population dynamics of Rice Leaf Folder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) under

Population dynamics of rice leaffolder, Cnaphalocrcis medinalis wascarried out in the field at Choudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University,Rice Research Station, Kaul during Kharif season. The population of rice leaffolderfluctuated in different periods during the season. The maximum number of eggs, larvaeand pupae were observed during the 35th week (i.e.4th week of August), 36th week (i.e.1stweek of September), respectively. This indicated that maximum population of pest predominatedin September-October. Apanteles sp. and Cotesia sp. were observed as thedominating larval parasitoids while Brachymeria sp. and Xanthopimpla flavolineata were dominating pupal parasitoids. A spider of Lycosa sp. was also observed to predate uponlarvae and pupae of rice leaf folder. Total eggs with rainfall and parasitoids shownegative correlation. When total larval population correlated with biotic and abioticfactors it shows positive correlation with maximum temperature and sunshine hourswhile negative correlation with other factors like rainfall

Bar graph for population structure of selected wheat genotypes performed by admixture method in STRUCTURE.

Bar graph for population structure of selected wheat genotypes performed by admixture method in STRUCTURE.</p

Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) of selected bread wheat and wild wheat genotypes.

Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) of selected bread wheat and wild wheat genotypes.</p

Triangle heat plot showing pairwise values of <i>r</i>^<i>2</i> and <i>p</i> for different locus pairs over different chromosomes of selected wheat genotypes.

Triangle heat plot showing pairwise values of r2 and p for different locus pairs over different chromosomes of selected wheat genotypes.</p

Estimation of number of clusters using ΔK values for K ranging from 3 to 9.

Estimation of number of clusters using ΔK values for K ranging from 3 to 9.</p

Major allele frequency (MAF), gene diversity (GD) and polymorphic information content (PIC) values of 51 polymorphic microsatellite markers.

Major allele frequency (MAF), gene diversity (GD) and polymorphic information content (PIC) values of 51 polymorphic microsatellite markers.</p