Population density of wheat aphid and its natural predators on different wheat varieties planting at different times under ecological zone Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan

Three year field experiments were conducted to study the population density of wheat aphid and their beneficial fauna on different wheat varieties planted at different times at Adaptive Research Farm Sheikhupura, Pakistan in rice wheat cropping system. The experiment was laid out in split plot design in which varieties were replicated thrice in each planting date. Data for aphid population their predators, meteorological data, yield parameters and grain yield under different planting dates were recorded. Three years results revealed that in this ecological zone for wheat crop the planting dates 10th to 30th November performed better with respect to less attack of aphids, proper days required for maturity, number of grains per spike, number of tillers per m-2, thousand grains weight and grains yield. Late sown planting date causes reduction in yield due to reduce values of yield attributes and attack of aphid at growth stages while early sown date causes reduction in yield due to loss of grains weight by aphid feeding as the climatic conditions favors the development of aphids.