Seasonal incidence of spider mite in gerbera and its management under protected cultivation

The current study was conducted in the experimental plot of Division of Floriculture & Landscaping Architecture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar from March - February (2020–2021) under protected cultivation. The mite incidence on leaves reached the peak (1.75 mites/leaf) in 24^th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW)-June when the mean maximum temperature was 33.3°C while on flowers, peak (13.95 mites/flower) was obtained in 27^th SMW (July) at a corresponding maximum mean temperature of 37.7°C. The correlation studies between mite population and weather parameters revealed a positive and highly significant correlation of mites with temperature (minimum and maximum) whereas negative and highly significant relationship with maximum relative humidity was observed. Bio-efficacy of various treatments against mites revealed spiromesifen 5%EC@1ml/L to be most efficient followed by chlorfenapyr 10%SC @1ml/L. However, fipronil 5% SC @ 1 ml/L showed the lowest efficacy against mites.