INVESTIGATION ON SEASONAL INCIDENCE OF BANANA APHID, PENTALONIA NIGRONERVOSA (COQUERL) AND BUNCHY TOP DISEASE

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the seasonal activity of banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa (Coq) and its status as vector of bunchy top disease in banana cv Grand Naine. Findings suggested P. nigronervosa population build up in the month of June during both the years. The aphid population was recorded maximum during October (24 aphids per colony) and September (20 aphids per colony) in both the years (2005-06 and 2006-07). The aphid is responsible for transmitting the bunchy top disease (BBTV) in banana and the intensity of BBTV increased as the aphid population increased. The aphid population shows positive relationships with all abiotic factors viz., minimum , maximum, mean temperature and relative humidity.