Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake-560 089, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
1Present address: Department of Entomology, S. V. Agricultural College, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Tirupati-517 502, Andhra Pradesh, India
The aphid, Aphis punicae Passerini is one among the serious pests attacking pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). Field studies were carried out at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, India to know the seasonality and effect of abiotic factors on aphid, A. punicae. The studies revealed that the A. punicae infestation was found during December to March, peaking in January and February in 2000–01 and during January in 2001–02. The infestation declined after March, The studies on correlation of aphid with climatic factors were also carried out. The aphid, A. punicae showed significant negative correlation with relative humidity and minimum temperature and showed no correlation with wind speed, maximum temperature and rainfall.
Abiotic factors, Aphis punicae, pomegranate, Punica granatum, seasonal incidence
