EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DATES OF SOWING ON THE INCIDENCE OF WHEAT SHOOT FLY ATHERIGONA ORYZAE MALLOCH IN NORTHERN KARNATAKA

Abstract

The effect of sowing dates on infestation of wheat shoot fly, Atherigona oryzae Mollach was investigated with the growing seasons of II FN of October, I-FN of November, II-Fort Night of November and I-Fort Night of December at University of Agricultural Science, Dharwad. Four sowing dates, using eight wheat genotypes were evaluated for their effect of infestation. Infestation due to shoot fly was significantly varied among the four different dates of sowings. II-FN of October resulted in very minimum mean dead heart damage 7.67 per cent with the eight wheat genotypes followed by 9.88, 17.77 and 19.57 per cent in I-FN of November, II-FN of November and I-FN of December respectively. The dead heart damage followed an increasing trend as the date of sowing delayed. Among all the eight wheat genotypes, UAS-304 recorded highest per cent dead heart 23.42 in I-FN of December sowing and GW-322 recorded lowest 8.30 per cent dead heart at same date of sowing. From the investigation it is concluded that delayed in wheat sowing results in higher per cent dead heart due to shoot fly and therefore early sowing at II-FN of October is the best time period for the wheat crop and that results minimum shoot fly damage.