Association of Agrometeorologists

Effect of weather variables on whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) population in development of potato apical leaf curl virus disease

MANOJ KUMAR andANIL GUPTA

Potato apical leaf curl virus disease (PALCVD) is an important disease in early sown potato crop transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). The studies pertaining to impact of weather variables on population of B. tabaci and PALCV disease incidence on seven potato cultivars (Kufri Pushkar, Kufri Bahar, Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Badshah, Kufri Khyati, Kufri Surya and Kufri Sadabahar) were conducted during 2012-13 and 2013-14. Results showed that the mean B. tabaci population was highest in the last week of October which varied from 24 to 85 white flies per plant. Thereafter, the population of B. tabaci decreased gradually with the fall in both maximum and minimum temperatures. Kufri Bahar variety had least B. tabaci population on all dates of observation. It was found that B. tabaci population (vector) was directly proportional to PALCVD. The pooled data showed that maximum temperature, minimum temperature, evening relative humidity and wind speed were the important contributing weather variables which could predict the vector populations by 57 per cent.

Weather parameters, disease incidence, PALCVD, potato, whitefly