1Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram695522, Kerala
*Email: mithramohan56@gmail.com (corresponding author)
A experiment was conducted to study the response of brinj al cultivars to mealybug Coccidohystrix insolita and its natural enemies at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala. Among the tested cultivars, Pusa Uttam recorded the lowest mean incidence (38.58) which was statistically on par with Pusa Purple Long (41.67). The evaluated cultivar, Udit harbored maximum number of mealybugs (127.58) which was statistically on par with Pink Long (116.75) and Haritha (115.50). The tested brinjal cultivars were categorized based on mean % leaf infestation. Pusa Purple Long was included under the category resistant whereas Pusa Uttam and Ponni were in the group moderately resistant; Pusa Kaushal, Pusa Shyamla and Neelima were moderately susceptible whereas hybrids Green Long and Pink Long fell under susceptible category. Cultivars, Udit and Haritha were found to be highly susceptible. The cultivars Haritha (3.92) attracted more number of predatory coccinellid beetles whereas the least occurence of spiders was observed in Pusa Purple Long (1.42).
Brinjal, Coccidohystrix insolita, Natural enemies, Coccinellid spiders, Tolerance index, Cultivars, Leaf infestation, Susceptible, Resistant, Host plant resistance
