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Population Dynamics of Cabbage Aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. on Major

Cole Crops in Meghalaya

Article in Madras Agricultural Journal · May 2012

DOI: 10.29321/MAJ.10.100143

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Madras Agric. J., 99 (7-9): 573-575, September 2012
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Population Dynamics of Cabbage Aphid,

Brevicoryne brassicae L. on Major Cole Crops in Meghalaya

Sandip Patra*, N.S. Azad Thakur, Kanchan Saikia and D.M. Firake
Division of Crop Improvement,
ICAR Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya - 793 103

Population dynamics of cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) was studied during 2009-10
at Entomology Farm, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya. Cabbage,
cauliflower, knolkhol and broccoli were planted on two different dates at fifteen days interval
to study the incidence pattern of cabbage aphid. Early planted crops were relatively safer
than late planted crops in relation to aphid infestation. Mean aphid numbers per square inch
leaf area were 1.63, 1.44, 2.79 and 1.14 on first plantings and 3.15, 1.39, 3.68 and 1.68 on second
plantings cabbage, cauliflower, knolkhol and broccoli, respectively. Correlation study between
weather parameters and aphid population showed negative influence of temperature, relative
humidity and rainfall on population growth of aphid.

Key words: Cabbage, cauliflower, knolkhol, broccoli, Brevicoryne brassicae, population dynamics,
correlation studies

Meghalaya state lies on the north eastern broccoli (Cultivar: Hybrid Pushpa) and knolkhol
Himalayas and is famous for its biodiversity. The (Cultivar: Early White Vienna) were sown in nursery
weather is very suitable for multiplication of insect on two different dates at fifteen days interval and
pests and their natural enemies. Cole crops are the transplanted (as 27-30 days old seedlings) on 12th
major vegetables grown in the region. Among and 27th October, 2009 in 3mX3m plot size with
various insect pests that attack cruciferous 45cm X 45cm spacing. Crops were raised with
vegetable, aphids are the most common pests. The proper agronomic management practices. Field
cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. experiment was laid out in Randomized Block
(Aphididae: Hemiptera) is most abundant from Design with three replications for each crop. Aphids
November-December to March-April when it infests were counted from randomly selected ten plants
various cruciferous oil seed crops and vegetables from each replication. Observation was recorded
(Atwal, 1976). It plays a prominent role in reducing from one square inch leaf area from two leaves/
the yield ranging from 50 to 80% (Khan and Munir, plant by examining on both sides of leaf at weekly
1986; Ellis and Singh, 1993). Besides the direct interval till maturity of crops using a template made
damage, aphids deteriorate market potential by of card board. Meteorological parameters viz.
helping in colonization of phytophagous fungi. Since, temperature, relative humidity and rainfall were
the region is highly weather dynamic, assessment collected and correlated with aphid population.
of population fluctuation is a prerequisite for
implementation of control measure against this Results and Discussion
notorious pest. A lot of work has been done in the Population dynamics of cabbage aphid
past at different parts of the country on different aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) on different cruciferous
species but information on cabbage aphid and crops is presented in Fig.1 to 2 and Table 1.
weather relationship has not been studied till date
in this region. Therefore, the present experiment The population of aphids/inch2 leaf area varied
was conducted to study the population dynamics of from 0.10 to 4.05 on cabbage, 0 to 3.90 on
cabbage aphid on cruciferous crops on variable cauliflower, 0.65 to 5.35 on knolkhol and 0 to 3.25
sowing dates. on broccoli on early planted crops (Fig.1). Initially
some crops were free from aphid incidence but later
Materials and Methods they were infested. Population of aphid increased
gradually and reached its peak on different dates.
The experiment was carried out at the
Peak population was observed on 28th November,
Entomology Farm, ICAR Research Complex for
2009 on cabbage (4.05 aphids/ inch 2), 2nd January,
North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India
2010 on cauliflower (3.90 aphids/ inch2) and 9th
during 2009-2010 crop seasons. Cabbage (Cultivar:
January on both knolkhol and broccoli with 5.35 and
Wonderball), cauliflower (Cultivar: Hybrid Megha),
3.25 aphids /inch2, respectively.
*Corresponding author email: [email protected]
574

Table 1. Cabbage aphid population on variable aphids started soon after transplanting except
dates of planting
broccoli and peak population was noticed as the
Aphid numbers/inch2 leaf area* crop matured during early January, 2010. In
Crop
Early Planting Late Planting cauliflower, peak population was recorded on 2 nd
(12.10.2009) (27.10.2009) January with 4.65 aphids /inch2 whereas it was on
Cabbage 1.63 3.15
9th January on cabbage, knolkhol and broccoli with
Cauliflower 1.44 1.39
4.95, 5.60 and 3.70 aphids/inch2, respectively.
Knolkhol 2.79 3.68
Broccoli 1.14 1.68 Mean population of aphid (Table 1) showed that
*Means of ten observations early planted crops were less infested compared to
In late planted crops, numbers of aphid varied late planted crops. Average aphid numbers in early
from 0.70 to 4.95, 0.3 to 4.65, 0.5 to 5.60 and 0 to planting were 1.63, 1.44, 2.79 and 1.14 aphids/inch2
3.70 aphids /inch2 on cabbage, cauliflower, knolkhol compared to 3.15, 1.39, 3.68 and 1.68 aphids/inch 2
and broccoli, respectively (Fig.2). Incidence of in late planting on cabbage, cauliflower, knolkhol
Table 2. Meteorological data during crop season of 2009-2010
Mean Temperature (0C) Relative Humidity (%) Rainfall
Date of observation (mm)
Maximum Minimum Average Maximum Minimum Average
07.11.2009 26.89 14.33 20.61 84 60 72 0
14.11.2009 25.14 11.9 18.52 79.57 58 68.79 0
21.11.2009 23.24 12.29 17.76 82 63.86 72.93 0.1
28.11.2009 22.41 8.83 15.62 84.44 60.33 72.39 0
05.12.2009 23.09 10.27 16.68 81.86 78.14 80.00 0
12.12.2009 21.69 7.83 14.76 76.43 49.57 63.00 0
19.12.2009 21.57 7.97 14.77 87 54.43 70.72 0
26.12.2009 20.27 6.7 13.48 85.3 59.3 72.30 0
02.01.2010 20.83 4.89 12.86 82 53 67.50 0
09.01.2010 22.39 6.14 14.26 63.71 48.29 56.00 0

and broccoli, respectively. Broccoli and cauliflower correlation between aphid population and different
were comparatively less infested with cabbage weather factors (maximum, minimum and average
aphids on both planting dates compared to other temperature; maximum, minimum and average
crops. relative humidity and rainfall) was negative and it
was also highly significant. Maximum temperature
Population dynamics of cabbage aphid was
played significant negative role only in late planted
correlated with weather factors (Table 2) during the
cabbage and knolkhol where as minimum
study period and presented in Table 3. Though
Table 3. Correlation coefficients (r) between aphid population and weather factors during crop season
Mean Temperature (0C) Relative Humidity (%) Rainfall
Crop (mm)
Maximum Minimum Average Maximum Minimum Average
Early Planting
Cabbage -0.515 -0.699* -0.643* -0.333 -0.262 -0.344 -0.310
Cauliflower -0.563 -0.819** -0.737* -0.593 -0.643* -0.730* -0.182
Knolkhol -0.576 -0.859** -0.767** -0.448 -0.628 -0.645* -0.453
Broccoli -0.601 -0.847** -0.770** -0.418 -0.508 -0.550 -0.332
Late Planting
Cabbage -0.768** -0.747* -0.776** -0.265 -0.166 -0.246 -0.068
Cauliflower -0.417 -0.702* -0.605 -0.569 -0.554 -0.658* -0.134
Knolkhol -0.691* -0.873** -0.823** -0.231 -0.220 -0.264 -0.643*
Broccoli -0.406 -0.635* -0.559 -0.486 -0.162 -0.358 -0.283
*Significant at 0.05% level; **Significant at 0.01% level

temperature showed significantly negative role on cauliflower and early planted knolkhol were
aphid abundance for all cole crops. Average negatively significant with average relative humidity.
temperature had a negative influence on aphid Effect of rainfall was highly negative and non
population except in late planted cauliflower and significant on population growth of cabbage aphid
broccoli. Both maximum and minimum relative in all crops for both plantings except in late planted
humidity showed negative influence on population knolkhol.
growth of aphid except in early planted cauliflower
Present findings are similar to that of Younas et.
though not significant. Population of aphids on
al. (2004) who observed that aphid infestation
 575

Cabbage Cauliflower Knolkhol Broccoli

cauliflower. Though there were no coccinellid
predators in the field during study period, aphid
Aphid number’ s / inch

population was not endemic on crops, it may be

due to unfavorable weather factors to the pest.
Although, these crops were planted on two different
dates, both plantings were in October only.
Therefore, it was due to early cropping in this region,
all crops escaped from heavy infestation of cabbage
2

aphid before harvesting. Broccoli and cauliflower

were comparatively less infested to cabbage aphid
Dates of observation and this may be attributed to crop morphology. It
Fig.1. Trend of aphid incidence in early planted crops may be concluded that if cole crops are planted early
to mid October in Meghalaya condition, there would
be minimum chance of crop loss due to aphid
started at the last week of October with an average
infestation.
population density ranging from 0-13.33 aphids/cm2
on five cauliflower cultivars and increased gradually Acknowledgement
whereas Aslam et al (2007) who reported incidence
of cabbage aphids in early February in field, Authors are highly thankful to the Director, ICAR
increasing gradually with the peak in the first week Research Complex for North Eastern Hill Region,
of March and thereafter declining in the middle of Umiam, Meghalaya for providing all facilities to
March. The findings regarding correlation conduct this study.
References
Cabbage Cauliflower Knolkhol Broccoli
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abiotic factors in population fluctuation of aphids on
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Aslam ,M., Razaq, M., Ahmad, F. and Mirza, Y.H. 2007.

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Received: December 30, 2011; Accepted: May 8, 2012

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