IMPACT OF ABIOTIC FACTORS ON POPULATION DYNAMICS OF COTTON WHITEFLY (BEMISIA TABACI GENN.) ON TRANSGENIC AND NON-TRANSGENIC COTTON CULTIVARS IN FAISALABAD

The experiment was conducted to screen out the cultivars of transgenic-cotton (FH-113, FH-4243, FH-114, FH-167 and FH-187) and non-transgenic-cotton (FH-1000, FH-901, FH-941, FH-207 and FH-942) in the Entomological field at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The population dynamics of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Genn.), studied on the selected cultivars and was correlated with environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. Adult and nymphal population of whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) was recorded at weekly intervals during morning time and environmental factors data was collected from Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Maximum population of whitefly was recorded on V4 (FH-167) and the minimum was on V9 (FH-207). Whitefly showed two population peaks throughout the season. The first one was in the second week of July while the second was during the second week of August. Population of whitefly was more on transgenic varieties as compared to Non-Transgenic varieties. Correlation among weather factors and whitefly population showed that rainfall was negatively correlated while temperature and relative humidity were positively correlated with whitefly population.