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BARK BEETLE,
HYPOCRYPHALUS MANGIFERAE STEBBING (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE:
SCOLYTINAE) IS A VECTOR OF MANGO SUDDEN DEATH DISEASE IN
PAKISTAN
ASAD MASOOD
AND SHAFQAT SAEED
Abstract:
Role of bark beetle
Hypocryphalus mangiferae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) was
assessed and proved as a definitive vector in the transmission of Mango
sudden death disease (MSDD). Studies were carried out in the southern
Punjab, Pakistan. Healthy plants of mango (Mangifera indica L.)
were enclosed with beetles with and without fungus inoculum by employing
a technique “Mesh Enclosure Method” (MEM). Symptoms expression revealed
that the wilting was significant in 3 and 6 months but no significant
differences in oozing were found and also other symptoms like black
streaks and cankers were observed in the plants on which infested
beetles were introduced. Re-isolation of fungi after 7.5 months showed
higher frequency of Lasiodiplodia theobromae compared to
Ceratocystis fimbriata. In order to confirm the results, both of the
fungi were also isolated from adult beetles and beetle‘s frass. Based on
our findings, H. mangiferae was found to transmit the infection
of Mango Sudden Death Disease in healthy plants which necessitates an
integrated approach considering the disease and its vector for the
sustainable management of MSDD in orchards.
University College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan,
Pakistan
*Corresponding authors:
E-mail:
bumblebeepak@gmail.com
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