Effect of Panicle or Sheath Mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki (Smiley) Infestation on Paddy Crop in Varanasi District Bhargava S.P.1, Jaiswal Deepak Kumar1, Singh Janardan1, Raju S.V.S.1, Singh A.K.2,*, Singh D.K.3 1Department of Entomology and agril. Zoology, IAS, BHU, Vararansi 2Department of Entomology, AICRP (Honey Bees & Pollinators) Nagaland University, SASRD, Medziphema, Nagaland 3Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, IAS, BHU, Vararansi *Email: dr.akhileshento@rediffmail.com
Online published on 15 December, 2016. Abstract Rice is the world's most important food crop, serving as the staple food for more than half of the world's population (Khush, 2005). Increasing global rice production in a sustainable manner is therefore a critical element in averting food shortages in the future (Normile, 2008). Insect-pests are known to cause major yield losses in various crops but in recent years mites are emerging as serious pest in paddy, which were considered minor or secondary pest particularly, Rice sheath mite (Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley). In the present investigation, Survey was conducted in Varanasi district in Kharif season 2011–12 in the month of October, November and December for possible panicle mite infestation in fine and coarse varieties of paddy. These varieties were monitored for panicle infestation and extent of percentage grains sterility caused by Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley was studied. There was a positive correlation between mite population and percentage of grain sterility in all medium duration varieties and all long duration varietieswhich were surveyed in the experiment. Lowest mite population and percentage of grain sterility was recorded in the bold seeded varieties, whereas high mite population was found in the long seed varieties. The sterility and chaffyness of grains are always not caused by panicle mite but some time, it is caused by some other insect like, rice Gandhi bug and thrips. In addition to abiotic and biotic stresses the genetic constitution of the plant variety might have played a significant role in regulating the mite population build-up. No any variety of paddy was found to be immune to Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley infestation. Very scanty information is available about the interaction of panicle mite with other biotic agents. Much research has to be done to explore the natural enemies like predatory mite which regulate mite population. Top Keywords Sustainable, grains sterility, chaffyness, correlation and immune. Top |