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The effects of the infestation by red spider mites, Tetranychus sp. (Acarina: Tetranychidae) on the growth and yield components of cotton in Eastern Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Thomas N. Murega  and
Battan M. Khaemba
Thomas N. Murega
Affiliation:
Mwea-Tebere Agricultural Research Station, P.O. Box 298, Kerugoya
Battan M. Khaemba
Affiliation:
University of Nairobi, Department of Zoology, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

Field investigations were conducted at Mwea-Tebere Agricultural Research Station, situated in Central Province of Kenya, to evaluate the effects of the infestation of cotton by red spider mites, Tetranychus sp., on its growth and yield components. The results obtained revealed that mite damage adversely affected vegetative growth as measured by the amount of leaf and plant dry matter, number of leaves per plant, leaf surface area and mean size of leaves which were reduced by 67.07, 48.46, 68.18 and 60.37% respectively.

In addition to these effects, it was estimated that seed cotton yields could be reduced by 46.93% per plant due to mite injury. Seed development was adversely affected through the reduction of their weight (seed index), oil content and viability by 9.30, 10.07 and 36.67%, respectively. Similarly, mite damage to cotton plants caused the reduction of lint weight (lint index) and lint ginning percentage by 15.42 and 4.5%, respectively.

Keywords

Cottonred spider mitesTetranychus sp.vegetative growthyield
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , February 1985 , pp. 7 - 10
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1985

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References

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