POPULATION DENSITY OF LESSER DATE MOTH ON MOST PROMINENT DATE PALM CULTIVARS AT KHAIRPUR MIRS

Abstract

Pakistan is a more peculiar and hearty zone for almost all types of date palm cultivars but only District Khairpur Mirs of Sindh is regarded as “Khajeen jo dees”. The field survey-based research study was conducted at Taluka Kingri, District Khairpur during, 2017-18. The present study was sought on viz., Aseel, Nar-aseel, Fasly, Karbalian, Otakin, Daki-wari, Asul-kurh, Kashoo-wari, Asul-khurmo, Dedhi-wari, Lessoro, Begun-wari, Gajar-wari, Noori-wari and Nakul-kurh date palm varieties. All the novel already cultivated varieties were observed through random selection against the population density of Batrachedra amydraula. The pest data was taken every week from April, May and June months in both years of the study period. The pest data was gathered from 15 acres of cultivated Phoenix dactylifera orchards and prohibited to any insecticides. The maximum suspected pest infestation was found on Fasli cultivar whereas; the minimum infestation was recorded on Aseel. This commercial high-priced variety is found with high tolerance capability against salinity, drought, and upper range temperature conditions and hence recommended for cultivation. In the present study, it was frequently observed the appearance of the Batrachedra amydraula on all novel cultivars. The “Khajoor” is the cash crop and the main economic source of livelihood of this region but for a few decades, LDM has leads productivity reduction in terms of quantity and quality. The food security and socio-economic status of date palms are poorly documented in Pakistan. In this context for date palm crop security, more work should be carried on against population reduction of LDM.