Influence of Meteorological Factors and Plant Age on Incidence of Tetranychus cucurbitacearum (Sayed) (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Two Melon Cultivars

Changes in climatic factors and pests have a substantial impact on agricultural yields because of their close relationship to crop production. Understanding how climate change affects pests is therefore essential for efficient management and adequate food production. In this research, correlation and regression relationships were studied on the effect of climatic variables (temperatures, relative humidity & wind velocity) and plant age on the T. cucurbitacearum population of two melon cultivars, watermelon (Sakata) and muskmelon (Mac G5), during two consecutive seasons (2022 & 2023) at El-Beheira Governorate. Throughout the crop-growing period, it was found that the mite population increased consistently. The spider mite population reached its peak on May 6 and May 20, after which the population gradually declined. On the two melon cultivars, the moving and egg stages of T. cucurbitacearum exhibited a highly significant positive correlation with both plant age and maximum & minimum temperatures. Additionally, wind velocity positively affected the T. cucurbitacearum population to a moderate degree. Throughout the two consecutive seasons, there was a significant negative correlation between the T. cucurbitacearum population and relative humidity on the two melon cultivars. Therefore, understanding the weather conditions that influence pest fluctuations is crucial when developing mite management plans.