Brinjal shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee) seasonal activity and association with abiotic factor

The study has been conducted at Research Farm, College of Agriculture, Gwalior (M.P.), in the summers of 2021 and 2022. In the summers of 2021 and 2022, the crop was first infested by the shoot and fruit borer on the 10th and 13th standard meteorological week (SMW). The infestation persisted until the 23rd and 24th SMW, respectively. During the first year, the 15th SMW had the highest infestation rate for shoot damage, 15.76%, while the 18th SMW had the highest infestation rate for shoot damage, 15.07%, in the second year. Whereas fruit damage per cent is calculated based on number and weight, and its peak per cent infestation was noted on the 22nd SMW with 31.67% based on number, 30.12% based on weight during the first year, and 30.34% based on number and 29.95% based on weight during the second year, which was noted on the 23rd SMW. There was a significant positive correlation between maximum temperature and shoot damage percentage (<i>r</i> = 0.62) and minimum temperature and fruit damage percentage based on number (<i>r</i> = 0.87) and weight (<i>r</i> = 0.88) during the first year of study. However, during the first year of the study, there was a negative association (<i>r</i> = –0.68) between morning relative humidity and shoot damage per cent. The following year's research revealed a highly significant positive link between maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and evaporation with fruit damage (%) based on the number (<i>r</i> = 0.64, 0.92, and 0.82) and based on weight (<i>r</i> = 0.63, 0.92, and 0.82), respectively.