Department of Entomology, Rajasthan Agricultural University, Agricultural Research Station, Mandore, Jodhpur-342304, Rajasthan, (India).
Incidence of leaf curl mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) on sesame was found to be influenced by abiotic factors. Correlation between relative humidity both morning and evening was positive and significant. Maximum temperature showed negative and signitkant correlation with the population of mite. But, correlation between minimum temperature and rainfall and the number of mite was negative and non-significant. Symptoms of damage due to mite started appearing after one month of sowing in August and continued till harvest. Peak population of mite (28.7 per leaf) was recorded during mid September in 1994, when the maximum and minimum temperature ranged from 30.1 to 33.0°C and 22.6 to 25.2°C, respectively. The morning and evening relative humidity recorded were 86–92 per cent and 67–76 per cent, respectively.
