Collection and Performance of Locally Collected <i>Kerria lacca</i> Strain on Different Host Plants in Jammu Region

Abstract

Explorative surveys were conducted to detect the natural occurrence of Kerria lacca in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on its natural hosts Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana), Palas (Butea monosperma), Kikar (Acacia nilotica) Khair (Acacia catechu) and Pipal (Ficus religosia). The natural occurrence of the insect was found to be highly threatened due to summer mortality, parasitism by natural enemies and human interventions. Over the period of survey, a total of 9 strains were recovered and conserved ex-situ in the gene bank. On the basis of productivity linked parameters the ‘Gol Market’ strain was found to be the most promising in terms of higher initial settlement (172.8 crawlers/ cm2 ), lower mortality (43%), greater fecundity (225 larvae per cell) and dense female cells (11.32/ cm2 ). Further, this strain was inoculated on three different hosts viz., Flemingia semialata, Ziziphus mauritiana and Butea monosperma to study the productivity linked parameters. The productivity linked parameters like cell and resin weight (19.83 and 8.15 mg) were also found to be highest in this strain. The data recorded on mean initial and final density of settlement, density at crop maturity, weight of female cell, resin output and fecundity were significantly higher on F. semialata followed by Z. mauritiana and B. monosperma, respectively. Initial mortality (%) showed significant difference among different hosts with minimum mortality of 24.79% on F. semialata followed by 46.80% and 71.94% mean mortality on Z. mauritiana and B. monosperma, respectively.