Coconut Rugose Spiraling Whitefly Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin Nutrient Depletion and Yield Loss

The study was conducted to find out the yield limiting nutrients in coconut palms a result of infestation of invasive rugose spiraling whitefly Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin through understanding the relationship between the leaf nutrient status and yield. The nitrogen levels were negatively and highly significantly correlated with yield loss (%) in Godavari Ganga hybrid (r = - 0.997**) and East Coast Tall (ECT) palms (r = - 0.999**). The phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), boron (B) and magnesium (Mg) were found to be ideal in the leaflets of hybrid and ECT palms, with optimum critical levels of P, K, Mg, B ranging from 0.12, 0.80, 0.25, 0.30% and 10 mg/ kg. It can be concluded that the impact of A. rugioperculatus incidence was noticed on nitrogen content of coconut leaflets and reflected in the form of nut yield reduction in Godavari Ganga hybrid and ECT coconut palms at Kalavalapalli plantations.