~ 1546 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2020; 8(3): 1546-1548 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 www.entomoljournal.com JEZS 2020; 8(3): 1546-1548 © 2020 JEZS Received: 22-03-2020 Accepted: 24-04-2020 PS Wade Department of Agril. Entomology, College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli. Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India Dr. SM Wankhede Jr. Entomologist, Regional Coconut Research Station, Bhatye, Maharashtra, India NK Hatwar Department of Agril. Entomology, College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli. Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India Dr. BD Shinde Assistant Professor, Department of Agril. Entomology, College of Agriculture, Dapoli. Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India Dr. PB Sanap Vegetable Specialist, Vegetable Improvement Scheme, Central Experiment Station, Wakawali, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India Corresponding Author: PS Wade Department of Agril. Entomology, College of Agriculture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli. Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India Seasonal incidence of major pests infesting tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) PS Wade, Dr. SM Wankhede, NK Hatwar, Dr. BD Shinde and Dr. PB Sanap Abstract A field experiment was conducted at Central Experimental Station, Wakawali, during rabi, 2018-2019 to study the effect of weather parameters on incidence of major pests infesting tomato. Whitefly, aphid and leaf miner appeared during 2 nd Standard Meteorological Week (SMW), while first incidence of fruit borer was seen on 5 th SMW. The peak population of whitefly were observed in 16 th SMW with a mean population of 7.83 per three leaves. Aphids (4.53 per three leaves) and leaf miner (40.02% infestation) were observed in 7 th and 12 th SMW, respectively. Whitefly, leaf miner and fruit borer demonstrated non- significant positive association with maximum temperature (r =0.319, 0.468 and 0.314, respectively), but non-significant negative correlation (r= -0.472) in aphids. Positive significant correlation was recorded (r= 0.521 and 0.571) of minimum temperature with whitefly and leaf miner, respectively. Whereas, non- significant negative correlation found (r= -455) between minimum temperature and aphid population. Fruit borer infestation had positive non-significant correlation (r= 0.450) with minimum temperature. The maximum relative humidity was non-significantly negative correlated (r= -0.429, -0.209, -0.498 and - 0.484) with whitefly, aphid, leaf miner and fruit borer, respectively. Evening relative humidity showed positive non-significant correlation (r= 0.397, 0.384 and 0.407) with whitefly, leaf miner and fruit borer population, respectively. Aphid population was non-significantly negative correlated (r= -0.308) with evening relative humidity. Keywords: Tomato, incidence, weather, whitefly, aphid, leaf miner, fruit borer Introduction Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important vegetable crop grown worldwide after potato. It is affected by several biotic, physiochemical and mesobiotic factors. Among the biotic factors insect pests are predominant and occur regularly at different stages of crop growth. A number of insect pests i.e. about 100 insect pests and 25 non insect pests species are reported to ravage the tomato fields (Lange and Bronson, 1981) [10] . Tomatoes provide an very good amount of vitamin C, a good amount of the minerals, manganese and vitamin E. With regard to phytonutrients, it includes flavanones, flavonols and carotenoids like lycopene, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene. Reduced risk of heart disease is an area of health benefits in which tomatoes truly excel. There are two basic lines of research that have repeatedly linked tomatoes to heart health. The first line of research involves antioxidant support and the second line involves regulation of fats in the blood stream (Mateljan, 2006) [12] . Tomato is cultivated in 789.15 thousand hectares area in India with 19759.32 metric tons production and 25.03 tons per hectare productivity. In Maharashtra, tomato is grown over an area of 45,500 hectares with a production of 1086.56 metric tons and productivity is 23.88 tons per hectare during 2017-18 (Anonymous, 2018) [1] . The sucking pests viz. whiteflies and aphids cause severe damage to crop by transmitting virus disease rather than direct feeding (Kumar et al., 2010) [9] . Among the pests, the loss incurred by Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) has become most important in recent years (Medeiros et al., 2005) [13] . The tomato fruit borer, Helicoverpera armigera (Hubner) is a key pest and cause upto 40-50 per cent damage to the tomato crop (Pareek and Bhargava 2003) [15] . This pest is a nocturnal and polyphagous in nature, distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent. The larval stage of this pest infest fruits and makes it unfit for human consumption. The young larval stage feed on the foliage and later instars bore inside the fruits (Singh and Narang, 1990) [20] . Incidence of above pests is dependent on weather parameters, therefore the present study was carried out to see the effect of weather parameters on incidence of major pests infesting tomato.