P.56. Influence of sowing time on the incidence of yellow vein mosaic and whitefly population

Field experiments were conducted in kharif (rainy) and summer seasons during the year 2003–04 to assess effect of different dates of sowing on the incidence of yellow vein mosaic virus disease of bhindi (okra) and its whitefly vector Bemisia tabaci. The result indicated that the whitefly population in early dates of sowing i.e., 15^th August recorded significantly more number of whiteflies in kharif and summer, the early dates of sowing i.e. 8^th January shows significantly less number of whiteflies than rest of dates of sowing. Early dates of sowing in kharif upto 45 days after sowing recorded less incidence. In summer early sown crops i.e. in January had significantly less incidence than crop sown 7^th and 22^nd February in all growth stages of crop. Early dates of sowing i.e. 15^th August recorded higher yield (1231 kg/ha) and in summer early sowing dates 8 January showed significantly less incidence and higher yield (1089 kg/ha) than rest of sowing.