Vol. 11, Special Issue 3 (2022)

Author(s):
AP Jahnavi, SN Megeri, KM Srinivasa Reddy and SS Patil

Abstract:
Sunflower is an important oilseed crop in India. Yield loss in sunflower is mainly due to moderate to severe insect pest incidence. In this ongoing study, an effort has been made to appraised the insect population dynamics and weather parameters influence on defoliator, leafhopper, thrips and capitulum borer. Different non-linear models were fitted to assess the insect population dynamics of sunflower. Based on R², Adjusted R² and Root Mean squared Error value, logistic, geometric and exponential models were observed to be best fitted for TH and CB whereas 6^th, 7^th and 8^th Degree Polynomial Regression models were employed when these above mentioned non-linear models were not appropriately fitted. For DF and LH 8^th degree polynomial regression models was found to be best fitted. For all the insects in sunflower, coefficient of maximum RH and maximum temperature were found to be significant at 5 per cent level of significance, whereas other abiotic factors may influence indirectly on these insects.