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BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF ACHYRANTHES ASPERA AND XANTHIUM STRUMARIUM IN PAKISTAN

SHAZIA SHAFIQUE, ARSHAD JAVAID^*, RUKHSANA BAJWA AND SOBIYA SHAFIQE

Abstract: Achyranthes aspera L., and Xanthium strumarium L. are two troublesome weeds that generally grow on wastelands. A mealy bug species was found to be a biological control agent severely damaging these two weeds. Very heavy infestation of mealy bug was recorded on these two weeds during the months of October and November in an open undisturbed area in Quaid-e-Azam Campus, University of the Punjab, Lahore. Mealy bug was feeding on terminal and axilliary buds, stem surface and inflorescence. The invaded plants first showed the symptoms of die back and ultimately dead. The mealy bug attack was not found on rice, maize and shorghum, the main crops in the season. Three wasteland weeds, however, viz., Malvestrum tricuspidatum A. Gray, Sida spinosa L., and Parthenium hysterophorus L., were found to be attacked by the mealy bug. Further study regarding the screening of other important crops against mealy bug attack is required before its use as a biological control agent against the studied weeds. 

Institute of Mycology and Plant Pathology, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus Lahore, Pakistan.