Cassava, Manihot esculenta is primarily grown for its storage roots, which is edible. It is an important source of carbohydrate in the world. Beyond as a food source, cassava root can be used in various industries like production of plywood, bioethanol, paper, liquid glucose, sago flour etc. A study on the seasonal fluctuation in the population density of vegetable spider mite, Tetranychus neocaledonicus on the cassava was carried out from April, 2016 to March,2017 in Puthuparamba , Malappuram district of Kerala. Result of the study indicated that feeding injury of the spider mite to the cassava leaf was marked by appearance of chlorotic spots. Latter large chlorotic patches are formed by fusion of this spots. There by reducing the vigor of the plant. The population density of these mites was showing a rapid decline from April to June. Then from july onwards a gradual rise was observed. The average number of spider mites present per 1cm2 area of M. esculenta was 20.8. The effect of temperature, relative humidity, and rain fall on the population density of this mites were discussed in this paper. Temperature showed a positive correlation r = 0.944) with the population density of spider mites. Whereas relative humidity showed a negative correlation (r = -0.94). Rain fall also exerted a negative impact on population density of spider mite (r = -0.419).

Author Name: T. R. Sobha , Ummukulsoom O. P and T. P Shabana.

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Keywords: Manihot esculenta Vegetable spider mite Tetranychus neocaledonicus population density

ISSN: 2320-5407

EISSN: 2320-5407

EOI/DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJA

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