Effect of pesticides on shot hole borer Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff) (Scolytidae: coleoptera) feeding pathogenic fungi Fusarium bugnicourtii (bray ford) Sundaravadivelan C.1, Kumar P.2,*, Anburaj J.3, Kuberan T.4, Sivasubramanian S.5 1Department of Zoology, Vivekanandha College of Arts and Sciences for Women (Autonomous), Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode-637 205, India 2Manonmanium Sundaranar University, Sri Paramakalyani Centre of Excellence in Environmental Science, Alwarkurichi-627 412, Tirunelveli, India 3Department of Microbiology, J.J. College of Arts and Sciences (Autonomous), Pudukkottai, 622 404, India 4Plant Pathology Division, UPASI Tea Research Institute, Nirar Dam BPO, Valparai-642 127, India 5Department of Botany, J.J. College of Arts and Sciences (Autonomous), Pudukkottai, 622 404, India *Corresponding author: E-mail: pkumareru@gmail.com
Online published on 21 March, 2015. Abstract Tea is one of the major nonalcoholic beverages in the world. Being a perennial crop, it provides a stable environment for a number of pests and diseases. Pests are important factors limiting the productivity and quality of processed tea. Among the pests, the shot hole borer (SHB), Euwallacea fornicatus (Eichhoff) is a serious pest of tea in south India. These beetles have a symbiotic relationship with the fungus Fusarium bugnicourtii. The fungal spores are carried by the beetles in special organs called mycangia located in the buccal cavity of head. Spores of the ambrosia fungus borne by the female beetles adhere to the walls of the stem galleries. On germination of spores, the grubs and adults feed on the fungus. Hence a novel approach has been attempted to find out the efficacy of pesticides on the fungus, F. bugnicourtii. Results showed 50% reduction of fungi while tested with Dicofol, Endosulfan, Quinalphos and Lambdacyhalothrin. The high significance was observed in Dicofol and Endosulfan, and no significance was recorded in Lime sulphur, Ethion and control treatments at 0.05%. Top Keywords Shot Hole Borer, Euwallacea fornicatus, Fusarium bugnicourtii, Feeding, Pesticides, Growth inhibition. Top |