ESTIMATION OF GERMINATION LOSSES CAUSED BY MITES IN WHEAT DRAWN FROM FARMER S HOLDINGS OF TEHSIL TOBA TEK SINGH

The mites are important pests of stored grains and other stored commodities. They are responsible of both the qualitative and quantitative losses in stored grains. The present studies were conducted to determine the impact of mite population on germination in seeds of wheat. The samples were collected from different localities of Tehsil Toba Tek Singh viz., Toba Tek Singh, Janiwala, Dabawala, Jalalpur, Dulum, Rajana, Bairianwala, Pairra and Chatiana. The data on mite population, germination and infestation were recorded initially and after three months of wheat storage. Maximum populations of harmful mites were recorded from Rajana at initial and final stages of experiment which were 2.66 and 7.66 respectively. Significant variations were recorded in initial and final germination percentages, which ranged 87.00-92.30 and 77.75-82.12 respectively. Negative correlation was observed between harmful mite population and final germination percentage of wheat with correlation coefficients of -0.486