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EFFECT OF PLANTING DATES ON APHIDS AND THEIR NATURAL ENEMIES IN CAULIFLOWER VARIETIES

SALEHA S. SIDDIQUI, M. NAEEM* AND NADEEM A. ABBASI¹

Abstract: Aphids are essential pest of cultivated crops in Pakistan. They not only trim down the yield of crops, but also serve as vector of diseases. The experiment was carried out to determine the influence of planting dates on aphid and their natural enemies in cauliflower varieties. There were two target planting dates (late September and late October) and four cauliflower varieties (Snow Crown, Cashmere, Snow Drift and Shehzadi). Green peach aphid, Myzus persicae was the only aphid species present on the cauliflower crop in 2008-2009. Aphid population was significantly lower in early planting cauliflower trial (late September) while in case of late planting cauliflower trial (late October) it was significantly higher. The rate of parasitism and predation on early planting trial were 3.86 % and 0.82%. In late planting trial, the rate of parasitism and predation were 3.3 % and 0.42 %. The variety “Cashmere” performed the best and considered resistant against aphids amongst early planted varieties, however, it was susceptible when planted during late season. The variety “Snow Drift” which was comparatively susceptible to aphid attack when planted during early season (late August) but proved resistant when planted during late season (late September) as minimum population of aphid was estimated on this variety.

Department of Entomology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

¹Department of Horticulture, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan