2023, Vol. 3, Issue 2, Part A
Estimation of the cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), populations and its relation to the okra yield.
Author(s): Moustafa MS Bakry, Lamiaa HY Mohamed and Eman A Shehata
Abstract: The mealybug, known as Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is an important polyphagous sap-sucking insect pest attacking okra plants (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Family: Malvaceae), causing plant desiccation, deformation, and fruit drop. The present work focused on evaluating the relationship between P. solenopsis population numbers during the weeks 9, 15, and 20 from planting and the okra yield in Armant district, Luxor governorate, Egypt, during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Data showed that as P. solenopsis population numbers increased, the okra yield gradually decreased at 9, 15, and 20 weeks of okra age after sowing in each season. Also, an increase of one individual of the pest/leaf resulted in a loss of okra production of 0.007, 0.004, and 0.004 kg per plot and 0.008, 0.005, and 0.004 kg/ plot (10.5 m2) in the intervals of peak activity of the two seasons, respectively. Consequently, okra yield loss % was increased by 0.32, 0.19, and 0.18% and 0.33, 0.21, and 0.18%, respectively, in the aforementioned weeks in 2021 and 2022. The results support the assumption that P. solenopsis populations reached their peaks at 9 weeks from okra planting and caused the highest loss of okra production and yield. At week 20 However, the peak of P. solenopsis populations was less effective, resulting in maximum expected production and minimum expected loss of okra yield throughout the two years. Therefore, the P. solenopsis infestation, the severity, and the okra plant susceptibility to invasion are known to be among the most important factors contributing to okra fruit yield decline.
Pages: 59-69 | Views: 78 | Downloads: 30
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How to cite this article:
Moustafa MS Bakry, Lamiaa HY Mohamed, Eman A Shehata. Estimation of the cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), populations and its relation to the okra yield.. Zool Entomol Lett 2023;3(2):59-69.
