INFLUENCE OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF MICRONUTRIENTS ON POPULATION DYNAMICS OF APHIDS ON WHEAT

Abstract

Wheat is considered as the major staple food world widely and is the best human diet. The wheat aphids Rhopalosiphum padi and Diuraphis noxia (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are the most hazardous pests of cereal crops especially wheat. An experiment was carried out during spring season of 2020 to assess the effect of foliar applications of five micronutrients (Fe, Mn, B, Cu and Zn) on population dynamics of aphids on wheat in Lahore, Pakistan. There were six treatments viz. T₁ (control), T₂ (1.5 g CuSO₄ L^-1), T₃ (4 g ZnSO₄ L^-1), T₄ (3 g MnSO₄ L^-1), T₅ (10 g FeSO₄ L^-1), and T₆ (1 g boric acid L^-1) in a randomized complete block design. Foliar application was done once after 12-week sowing when the crop was at booting stage. Population of aphids was significantly reduced in all the micronutrient application treatments as compared to control. In T₂ where CuSO₄ was sprayed, population of aphids was the lowest. The foliar application of Zn, Mn and B also declined the aphid population during the whole experimental period. Resultantly, foliar application of micronutrients could be applied to reduce the aphid population on wheat.