Yield loss in coconut variety East Coast Tall (ECT) owing to rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculetus M. infestation

Appraisal of nut yield reduction in East Coast Tall (ECT) variety of coconut palms with exotic and invasive rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW) infestation @ low ( 20 spirals per leaflet) incidence was studied out at two experimental locations viz., Horticultural Research Station (HRS), Ambajipeta and Kalavalapalli. The per cent (%) yield loss was estimated to be 6.61 and 22.45 per cent in ECT palms with low and medium RSW incidence, while comparatively greater yield loss of 27.59 per cent was recorded in palms with high incidence at HRS, Ambajipeta. Likewise, at Kalavalapalli village, the per cent (%) yield loss in ECT palms with low, medium and high RSW incidence was recorded to be 6.49, 25.65 and 30.38 per cent respectively. Further, declining trend of button setting was noticed for last 2 years (2019 to 2021) at HRS, Ambajipeta with 45.04 per cent during 2018 (highest before RSW infestation), while the least setting was recorded in the year 2021 with 28.39 per cent. The button setting during the years 2019 and 2020 was 33.41 and 31.19 per cent.