Varietal Response to Population Fluctuation of Insect Pests, Predators and Pollinator Fauna Associated with Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L) Crop

Eleven varieties of berseem (Trifolium alexandrium) in three replicates. Anmol berseem, Super berseem, agaiti berseem, pachaiti berseem, sandal berseem, Faisalabad 1, Faisalabad 2, P-94, Punjab berseem, Pakistani berseem and chenab berseem were used. Our results revealed that armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, aphid (Sitobian avenae L.) and leaf miner [Aproaerema modicella]are important pests of berseem while the coccinellids and a syrphid fly are important predators. Varieties viz., super berseem, pachaiti berseem, Faisalabad 2, P-94 and Punjab berseem proved comparatively resistant to armyworm attack, while varieties viz., anmol berseem, sandal berseem, Pakistani berseem and chenab berseem proved moderately resistant. Agaiti berseem proved highly susceptible to armyworm attack. Varieties viz., anmol berseem, agaiti berseem, Faisalabad 1, P-94, and chenab berseem proved resistant to aphid attack. Super berseem, pachaiti berseem and Punjab berseem proved moderately resistant. Sandal berseem was susceptible to aphid complex. Leaf miner dispersion on all varieties was non significant. Predators viz., dispersal of Coccinellidae was nonsignificant on all varieties while the syrphid fly was unevenly distributed on various varieties of berseem. Apis mellifera and adults of the syrphid fly proved to be important pollinator fauna for berseem.