The influence of rainfall deficits on the abundance of Helicoverpa (=Heliothis) armigera in Andhra Pradesh, India

    Pimbert, M P and Srivastava, C P (1991) The influence of rainfall deficits on the abundance of Helicoverpa (=Heliothis) armigera in Andhra Pradesh, India. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture, 8 (2). pp. 153-176. ISSN 0144-8765

    [img] PDF - Published Version
    Restricted to ICRISAT users only
    Download (3MB) | Request a copy

    Abstract

    Analysis of larval counts, light-trap data and weather patterns over a six year period shows that prolonged rainfall deficits promote the growth of Helicoverpa armigera populations in Andhra Pradesh, India. Drought stress resulting from rainfall shortages enhances the chemical cues involved in larval host selection behaviour and improves the nutritional quality of many wild and cultivated host plants on which this polyphagous pest reproduces. A more holistic analysis of the causes of H. armigera outbreaks should also include the effects of man induced drought that stem from the destabilisation of the water cycle in the drylands of India. Water conservation measures may need to be integrated in an overall plan of insect control on an area-wide basis.

    Item Type: Article
    Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Subjects: Others > Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
    Others > Climate Change
    Depositing User: Mr Charan Sai Ch
    Date Deposited: 26 Oct 2011 06:11
    Last Modified: 26 Oct 2011 06:13
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/2868
    Official URL:
    Projects: UNSPECIFIED
    Funders: UNSPECIFIED
    Acknowledgement: We thank Mr. S.K. Pal and his pest surveillance team for the meticulous recordingofH. armigera larvae on ICRISAT's mandate crops. Special thanks are also due to Dr. C.S. Pawar, M/s. Deepak Jadav and N. Narayana for arranging the recording of light trap catches and to Mr. Masthan Reddy, Joint Director, A.P. Bureau of Economics and Statistics, Hyderabad, for providing the rainfall data. We are also thankful to Mr. Md. Khaja and Mr. Mohan Reddy for their help in summarising the larval data on ICRISAT's mandate crops and to Mr. B.V.R. Sastry and Ms. Shankari for typing our manuscript. We also thank Drs. D. McDonald, K.F. Nwanze and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive criticisms.
    Links:
    View Statistics

    Actions (login required)

    View Item View Item
    OAR@ICRISAT is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.