Abstract

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is one of the most destructive insect pests of brinjal worldwide, causing significant yield losses through direct feeding and the transmission of plant viruses. This comprehensive study on the infestation of whitefly, in five brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) varieties (Twinkle Star, Adventa 305, Shamli, Black boy and Black Nagina) was carried out under field conditions in the Mansehra and Peshawar regions of Pakistan. The results revealed that the brinjal variety Twinkle Star showed comparatively higher resistance, leading to significantly lower mean whitefly numbers (i.e., 5.29 per plant and 4.92 per plant in Peshawar and 1.37 per plant and 2.48 per plant in Mansehra region) compared to other varieties during 2020 and 2021. Weather parameters significantly influenced whitefly abundance, with temperature showing positive associations with population build up, while relative humidity, both in the morning and evening, showed a significant negative association with whitefly populations at district Mansehra, no significant association was observed in district Peshawar. Rainfall displayed a weak negative but non-significant correlation at both locations. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that abiotic factors explained substantial variation in whitefly populations in selected brinjal varieties at both locations, with R2 values ranging from 76.30% to 76.80% in both years. The study concluded that the brinjal variety Twinkle Star showed comparatively greater resistance to whitefly infestations, with a significantly lower mean infestation level and suggesting its potential as a component of integrated pest management (IPM) program of whitefly in brinjal fields.