Studies on the Damage assessment and field management of Cucurbit Fruit fly, Bactrocera Cucurbitae in Cucurbitaceous Vegetable in Western Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

'J'hc present investigation entitled ..-.Studies on the dan1agc asscssn1cnt and field rnanagcrncnt of 'ucurbit fruit fly, JJaclrocera cucurbilae in cueurbitaccous vt•gt'tablt' of western plain zone of l Jttar Pradesh" at two places viz ... 131ock- J)aurala (Mc~nat) and 131ock- Punwarka (Saharanpur). 1'hc c. ·pcrirnent was conducted during =.ahl and kharij .. scuson in 20 15. 'J'he rntL ' itnurn und n1inin1U111 populntion fluctuation of fruit flies wn~ seen July 8-14 and June .. 3-9 in bitter gourd. 'rhc rnaxirnurn and rninirnurn population fluctuation of fruit flies was seen July'\ R-14 and June, I 0-16 in bottle gourd at 131ock l)aurala. l 'he rna. ·irnurn and rninirnurn population fluctuation of fruit flies wa~ sc~n July, 1-7 and June, 17-23 in ridge gourd at lllock J)aurala. 'J he rna:irnurn and rninilnurn population fluctuation of fruit flies was seen July, 1-7 and July - August. 2{}-4 in purnpkin at Block l)aurala. ')'he rna. · inturn and rnininturn population fluctuation of fruit flies \Vas seen June, 24-30 and June, 3-9 in bottle gourd at 13lock Punwarka. 'l'hc n1a~ ·in1um and n1inin1un1 population fluctuation of fruit flies \Vas seen July .. 8-14 and June, 3-9 in ridge gourd at IJiock Punwarka. ·rhe rna4 · irnurn and rninilnurn population lluctuation of fruit tlies was seen July. 8-14 and June. J-9 in pumpkin at lllock Punwarka. Atnong fbur selected cucurbitaccous crops bitter gourd was found n1ost favorit • host of cu urbit fruit fly, whereas, bottl' gourd was fbund least f~tv lrit ,. ho~t to cucurbit fruit fly. Level of host preference of fruit flies \Vas ftlund bitter gourd > ridge gourd >pumpkin> bottle gourd respectively among tour selected cucurbit crops ut lllock J>unwarka and Block Daurala. The rnt:an prc-ovip{ sit ion puriod I J.5± 1.5 and oviposition period 18.0.i: > da ~ while, rncun rnuting period (3± I hrs), fc "Undit 80.0 0 egg ·/lit~ cycle und incubation period of egg varied from 1.25 o._"i days \Vas observed of cu 'urbit fruit fly in Junt' and July 2015. I latching % ggs of fruit tl 87.5- .5 us obs~rvcd in .. 0 15 at average maYirnum and minimum tern perature 4.36 - _5.4 o in _o 15 und a rag relativ humidity 87.5% during 2015. 1 otal anuggot period wa.., ob rv d 5.180 1.1 > day whit , prepupal p riod and pupal p riod ' a.. >bs ~rv d 0. 7.. 0. and 9.5±0.5day" r spe 'tiv I during ·p rimc:nt in the: rnonth of Jun and July. 1 he average longevity of adult fruit flies was observed of J .5± 0.5 days in cases neither ft)Od nor wuter after ernergcnce frorn pupa. When was provided with cucurbit vegetables materials to fruit flies then fruit flies were Jived J 3.5±1.5 days in June and July 2015. ~rhe duration of total life cycle was 16.81 ±2.18 days in June and July 2015. In the f'icld experitncnt the highest infestation of cucurbit fruit fly (!Jaclrocera cucurbitae) was observed on bitter gourd and ridge gourd and the lowest was found on pumpkin and bottle gourd field trials at Block Daurala and Block Punwarka. Level of in testation of fruit flies on four cucurbits at 13Jock Punwarka was sJightly differed then Block DauraJa place. The average infestation of cucurbit fruit flies (26.33%, 13.00%., 20.12% and 1 4.88%) were observed in bitter gourd, bottle gourd, ridge gourd and pumpkin respectively at Block Daurala. The average infestation of cucurbit fruit Jlies (28.88o/o, 14.33%, 1 9.88o/o and 1 2.33%) were observed in bitter gourd, bottle gourd, ridge gourd and pumpkin respectively at Block Punwarka. Consequently, among four selected cucurbitaceous crops bitter gourd and ridge gourd were observed most infested crops to cucurbit fruit fly whereas bottle gourd and pumpkin was found slightest infested host to cucurbit fruit fly at both palaces. A positive effect was observed between minimum temperature, relative humidity and rainfall and fruit infestation in cucurbits but negative effect was observed between maximum temperature and fruit infestation 3 June to 4 August (20 15). Methyl eugenol and cue lure traps were found the most effective for monitoring the population of fruit fly and one of the best tools for taking decision for its management. Cue lure traps were found good result then methyl eugenol traps. For rnonitoring of cucurbit fruit flies among four cucurbits crops fields by tnethyl eugenol and cue lure traps higher numbers of fruit flies/week/ trap were caught in bitter gourd, ridge gourd, pumpkin and bottle gourd respectively in cue lure traps then methyl eugenol traps at Block Punwarka and Block Daurala. The activity of fruit flies was increased with the increase of relative humidity, rainfall and minimum temperature. While activity of fruit flies was decreased with the maximum temperature. A large numbers fruit flies/trap/week were caught when increase of relative humidity, rainfall and minimum ternperaturc were reported, while negative relationship was observed in case of average maximum temperature in 3 June to 4 August (20 15). For management of cucurbit fruit fly atnong four cucurbits crops cue lure traps were found 1nost effective in bitter gourd, ridge gourd, purnpkin and bottle gourd crops them methyl eugenol traps. Among aJI the treatments in cucurbits bitter gourd and ridge gourd were found most effective results of rnethyJ eugenol and cue lure traps fi·om bottle gourd and pumpkin crops at both Pflaces.