Impact of feeding activity of yellow mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) on moisture content of mulberry leaf

Abstract

Impact of feeding activity of yellow mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) on moisture content of mulberry leaf was studied through leaf moisture content analysis of mite infested and healthy leaves of five popular mulberry varieties viz., V -1, Mysore local, M -5, Vishwa/DD and Tr – 10 at UAS, GKVK, Bangalore. The leaf moisture content in the healthy leaves of different mulberry varieties ranged from 68.45% to 80.67% and 28.17% to 37.55% in mite infested leaves. It was observed that the damage caused by yellow mite on mulberry resulted in loss in the moisture content of the leaves. The percent leaf moisture content in different varieties varied from 68.45 to 80.05% in the healthy leaves and 29.63 to 37.55% in mite infested leaves. The maximum loss in the leaf moisture content was 62.99% in the mulberry variety V- 1 (from 80.05% to 29.63%) followed by 60.01% in Mysore local (from 74.10% to 29.63%), 58.85% in Tr – 10 (68.45 to 28.17%), 53.45% in M -5 (80.67 to 37.55%). Lowest reduction in leaf moisture content recorded was 48.19% in variety Vishwa/DD (70.90 to 36.73%).