Incidence and Severity of Blister Mite (Eriophyes erinea Nalepa) on Walnut (Juglans regia L.) under Temperate Conditions of Kashmir Valley

Abstract

Walnut is an important crop that is widely grown for its edible nuts, timber, and other commercial uses. Walnut pests can cause significant damage to the trees and reduce the quality and quantity of the crop. Walnut blister beetles can cause significant damage to walnut trees, especially during the early stages of fruit development. The data generated on incidence and severity revealed that the incidence of E. erinea commenced from 13th standard meteorological week (SMW) with mean incidence of 1.2 blister per leaf observed in this SMW, reached to its peak (22.7 per leaf) during 30th SMW and then decreased and reached to 0.8 blisters per leaf during 43rd SMW. The mean number of blister was found highest (18.64±1.62) in the month of July and lowest (1.25±0.2) in the month of October. Low severity (4.0%) of E. erinea was recorded in April, which reached to its peak (28.5%) in the month of July, thereafter, the severity decreased and reached to 1.5 per cent in the month of October.