Question

Effect of plant diversity on pest population of okra

Answer 1

Field surveys were carried out to inventorize the insect fauna in okra during kharif, 2012 and rabi, 2012-13. A total of 112 insect species under 106 genera, 56 families and 10 orders were observed in the okra ecosystem. The order lepidoptera was the most diversed (26 species) followed by coleoptera (24 species), hymenoptera (24 species), hemiptera (12 species), odonata (10 species), orthoptera (9 species), diptera (3 species), dictyoptera (2 species), neuroptera and thysanoptera (1 species in each). The order hymenoptera consists of maximum 13 families followed by hemiptera (11 families), lepidoptera (10 families), coleoptera (8 families), orthoptera (5 families), diptera (3 families), dictyoptera and odonata (2 families in each), neuroptera and thysanoptera (1 family in each). The diversity of the predators was maximum and comprised of 38 species followed by tourists (31 species), herbivores (28 species), parasitoids (7 species), pollinators (4 species), detrivores and omnivores (2 species in each).

Answer 2

Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus, known in many English-speaking countries as ladies' fingers or ochro, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of West African, Ethiopian, and South Asian origins.