Weather-dependent trends of Atherigona soccata Rondani infestation in sorghum

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the population dynamics of the sorghum shoot fly (Atherigona soccataRondani) during the Kharif season of 2020 at CCS HAU, Hisar. The research revealed a dramatic surge in the shoot fly population,escalating from 135 flies per trap to 243 flies per trap between the 29th and 38th weeks of the calendar year. The peak infestation,with 243 flies per trap, occurred in the third week of September, coinciding with the 38th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW),underscoring a critical period of pest activity. Our analysis identified significant correlations between shoot fly populations andkey climatic variables. A robust positive correlation was observed with the lowest temperature (r = 0.65**), evening humidity (r= 0.61**), and highest temperature (r = 0.35*), as well as average wind speed (r = 0.33*). Conversely, morning humidity (r = 0.38)and rainfall (r = 0.30) were found to be less influential, with their correlations not reaching statistical significance. Notably, thenumber of sunshine hours exhibited an inverse relationship (r = -0.01) that was statistically insignificant. These findings providecrucial insights into the climatic factors driving shoot fly infestations, highlighting the importance of temperature and humidityin pest management strategies. Understanding these dynamics is essential for optimizing control measures and mitigating cropdamage in sorghum cultivation.