INFLUENCE OF ABIOTIC FACTORS ON THE SUCKING PESTS OF BRINJAL AT PATUAKHALI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

ABSTRACT: Brinjal Solanum melongena Linn. is one of the most common and popular vegetables grown throughout the year in Bangladesh. The study was carried out in homestead garden of Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) campus, Dumki, Patuakhali to determine the influence of abiotic factors on sucking pests of brinjal during the period from December 2017 to March 2018. In foggy condition, the highest number of aphid was observed in top canopy followed by whiteflies and jassid while lowest was the mealy bug, but in clear sunshine weather condition, the highest number of jassid was recorded in top canopy followed by aphid and whiteflies while the lowest was the mealy bug. A positive and linear relationship was observed between mean aphid population with the temperature in brinjal host while a negative and linear relationship was observed between mean whitefly and jassid population with the temperature. A positive and linear relationship was observed among mean aphid, jassid and whitefly population with the relative humidity. A strong positive and linear relationship was observed between mean mealy bug and red spider mite population with the temperature and relative humidity. 

Keywords: Aphids, jassids, whitefly, mealybugs, temperature, relative humidity, rainfall