EFFECT OF SEASONAL WEATHER ON INCIDENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF MAJOR PESTS OF OKRA (ABELMOSCHUS-ESCULENTUS)

An experiment was conducted during 1983-91 at Anand to study the effec t of weather factors on the activity of aphid (Aphis gossypii Clover), leaf-hopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida) and fruit-borer (Ear ias vittella Fabr.) infesting okra or bhindi [Abelmoschus esculentus ( L.) Moench]. No significant relationship between the population of aph id, fruit-borer and any weather parameters was observed. Significant r elationship was observed between leaf-hopper level and maximum tempera ture (r = 0.76) as well as hours of bright sunshine (r = 0.82). The po pulation of leaf-hopper increased in monsoon when temperature remained around 37 degrees C along with at least 10 hr bright sunshine.