Assessment of yield losses and impact of morphological markers of various mango (Mangiferae indica) genotypes on mango mealybug (Drosicha mangiferae green) (Homoptera: Margarodidae).
Haider Karar, Arif M. J., Amjad Ali, Asifa Hameed, Ghulam Abbas, Qaisar Abbas
Author Affiliation: Entomological Research Sub-Station, Multan, Pakistan.
Pakistan Journal of Zoology 44 : 1643-1651
Abstract : A field experiment was conducted during 2006-2007 in a private orchard, in Multan, to assess the fruit loss in different genotypes of mango (Mangiferae indica) due to mango mealybug (Drosicha mangiferae Green) infestation and to determine relation of mango varieties morphological characters to abundance, preference and non preference of mango mealybugs. Results revealed that pest population was highest in varieties which were regular bearer, possessed light green leaf color, larger leaf size, round to medium beak, medium lenticels, light pink inflorescence, high exopericarp thickness and oblong fruit shape while population was minimum in varieties which possessed medium erect branches, alternate fruits bearer, light green leaf color, smaller leaf size, weak to absent fruit beak, medium lenticels, green inflorescence high exopericarp thickness and ovate fruit shape. Flesh color and mid rib vein curvature seemed to have no significant role with pest abundance. Pest observations for loss assessment revealed that the fruits obtained in pests managed genotypes were statistically more than untreated i.e. 10.82 percent in cultivar Anwar Retual followed by 10.81, 10.23, 9.53, 9.41, 9.21, 8.42 and 7.75 percent on Retaul-12, Chaunsa, Black Chaunsa, Sindhri, Tukhmi, Dusehri and Fajri, respectively. Maximum population of mango mealybug was recorded on Chaunsa i.e. 17.52 individuals/inflorescence and minimum on Anwar Retaul i.e. 9.67/inflorescence.