IMPACT OF SPIDER MITE INFESTATION ON THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS OF INDIAN THORNY BAMBOOS

Vibija C P; Dr. N. Ramani

Volume : IV, Issue : VII, July - 2015

IMPACT OF SPIDER MITE INFESTATION ON THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENTS OF INDIAN THORNY BAMBOOS

Vibija C P, Dr. N. Ramani

Abstract :

Spider mites coming under the family tetranychidae, are the most common mite pests and among the most ubiquitous of all pests in the garden. The present study elucidates the damage potential of these mites on the photosynthetic pigments of the leaves of Bambusa bambos (L) Voss. The results showed that an increase in the number of mites could lead to a decline in the total chlorophyll (77%) content of this plant. The feeding activity of the mites on the leaves of B. bambos induced drastic reduction in the levels of chlorophyll a (75%), chlorophyll b (85.03%) and carotenoids (47.8%). Results of statistical analysis of the data gathered on quantitative loss of chlorophyll due to the feeding activity of spider mites (using t-test) were proved highly significant at 0.01 level, thereby establishing spider mites as a potential pest of bamboos in India.