UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

An investigation was conducted during 2021-22 at Shalimar Garden, Kashmir, under natural field conditions to assess the relative susceptibility of twelve rose cultivars to thrips, aphids and mites. The cultivars evaluated were Arthur Bell, Bijazzo, Superstar, Okaholoma, Golden Gate, Kiss of Fire, American Heritage, Virgo, Naomi, Message, Noblesse and Naranga. The crop was maintained without insecticidal or acaricidal treatments so that natural pest infestations could develop, while other agronomic and cultural practices were applied uniformly. Observations were recorded at fortnightly intervals during the peak growth and flowering period from May to July. Thrips were counted per flower, aphids per shoot and mites per leaf, and mean pest populations were used to assign resistance ratings according to the prescribed infestation index. The cultivars differed in their response to the three sucking-pest groups. Mean thrips population ranged from 4.34 to 8.92 individuals per flower per plant; Virgo showed a moderately resistant reaction with a thrips index of 0.57, whereas Arthur Bell, Golden Gate, Kiss of Fire, American Heritage and Message were low resistant. For aphids, mean population ranged from 5.02 to 7.35 aphids per plant, with Superstar showing the most favourable response as highly resistant with an index of 0.14. Bijazzo, American Heritage and Virgo were moderately resistant to aphids. For mites, mean population ranged from 7.08 to 9.86 mites per leaf per plant. No cultivar was resistant or moderately resistant to mites, although Bijazzo, Golden Gate, American Heritage and Virgo showed comparatively lower mite indices and were classed as low resistant. The results indicate that cultivar response should be considered when developing integrated pest management strategies for rose cultivation under Kashmir valley conditions.