Seasonal incidence of major pests infesting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

A field experiment was conducted at Central Experimental Station, Wakawali, during rabi, 2018-2019 to study the effect of weather parameters on incidence of major pests infesting tomato. Whitefly, aphid and leaf miner appeared during 2nd Standard Meteorological Week (SMW), while first incidence of fruit borer was seen on 5th SMW. The peak population of whitefly were observed in 16th SMW with a mean population of 7.83 per three leaves. Aphids (4.53 per three leaves) and leaf miner (40.02% infestation) were observed in 7th and 12th SMW, respectively. Whitefly, leaf miner and fruit borer demonstrated non-significant positive association with maximum temperature (r =0.319, 0.468 and 0.314, respectively), but non-significant negative correlation (r= -0.472) in aphids. Positive significant correlation was recorded (r= 0.521 and 0.571) of minimum temperature with whitefly and leaf miner, respectively. Whereas, non-significant negative correlation found (r= -455) between minimum temperature and aphid population. Fruit borer infestation had positive non-significant correlation (r= 0.450) with minimum temperature. The maximum relative humidity was non-significantly negative correlated (r= -0.429, -0.209, -0.498 and -0.484) with whitefly, aphid, leaf miner and fruit borer, respectively. Evening relative humidity showed positive non-significant correlation (r= 0.397, 0.384 and 0.407) with whitefly, leaf miner and fruit borer population, respectively. Aphid population was non-significantly negative correlated (r= -0.308) with evening relative humidity.