Incidence of Banana Pseudostem Weevil, Odoiporous longicollis Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Major Banana Growing Districts of Northern Karnataka, India

A roving survey during 2020-21 was undertaken in different banana growing districts of Northern Karnataka to study the prevalence and the magnitude of the infestation of the banana pseudostem weevil, O.longicollis and to know the varietal reaction and preference to the banana pseudostem weevil. Observations of the survey revealed that the districts - wise mean percent infestation varied from 3.73 in Belagavi to 15.35 in Vijayanagar district. The maximum mean percent infestation was recorded in Vijayanagar (15.35) and Kalaburgi (14.67) districts. This was followed by the lowest infestation in Belagavi (3.73) district. The mean per cent infestation varied from 2.50 in the Rajapuri variety to 22.53 in the Sugandhi cultivar across the varieties in different districts. In respect to varieties, Sugandhi banana recorded the maximum level of infestation (22.53) followed by Red banana (22.00), whereas, Elakki recorded 12.53 and 11.33 mean percent infestation in Vijayanagar and Uttara Kannada districts. Grand-Naine was cultivated in all the districts, while redbanana, Sugandhi and Sakkare bale were cultivated only in Kalaburgi and Vijayanagar districts. The mean damage grade index of banana pseudostem weevil across seven varieties in seven districts of North Karnataka revealed highest damage grade index in redbanana (0.98) at Kalaburgi followed by Sugandhi (0.75) in Vijayanagar district. There were statistically significant differences in percent infestation among seven varieties and also among seven districts. Hence, the study highlighted the infestation of banana pseudostem weevil varied in North Karnataka based on the variety, cultivation practices and geographical location.