JOURNAL OF APPLIED ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCHES 147

J. Appl. Zool. Res (2013) 24(2):147-153

SURVEILLANCE OF ARJUNA (ROXB.) WIGHT & ARNOLD (ARJUN) DEFOLIATOR UNDER SOUTH GUJARAT AGRO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

MUKESH PARIHAR, JADEJA D. B. AND SUSHIL KUMAR

Department of Forestry, ASPEE College of Horticulture & Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari-396 450 (Gujarat) Email : [email protected]

Received: 23 January, 2013 Accepted: 13 September, 2013 ABSTRACT: Surveillance of Arjun, Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arnold defoliator (syn = Pink Gypsy or Sal defoliator) mathura Moore oriented damage was carried out in Navsari District of Gujarat from November 2099 to October 2010 during fixed plot, roving and nursery surveys. In fixed plot survey, highest leaf damage (76.40 %) was noticed during 49-50 standard weeks (SW) whereas; it remained lowest (4.32 %) during 17-18 SW. The damage indicated significant correlation with temperature (maximum and average) (‘r’= -0.7005 and - 0.6455) and wind velocity (‘r’= -0.5473) indicating total contribution of 76.03 per cent (R= 0.8883) due to all the abiotic factors. In roving survey, highest leaf damage (78 %) was observed during 49- 50 SW while; it remained lowest (11.50 %) during 15-16 SW. The damage exhibited significant correlation with temperature (maximum, minimum and average) (‘r’= -0.6757, -0.4462 and -0.6922) and wind velocity (‘r’= -0.5341) contributing 68.08% (R= 0.8555) variation due to all the abiotic factors. In nursery survey, leaf damage peaked (75.00%) during 8-9 SW while, it remained lowest (7.00 %) during 14-15 SW. The leaf damage had significant relationship with temperature (minimum and average) (‘r’= -0.6546 and -0.6890) and wind velocity (‘r’= -0.5812) indicating 30.64 per cent (R= 0.7040) due to all the factors. Key words: Terminalia arjuna, leaf defoliator and leaf damage

INTRODUCTION Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight. & Arnold (popularly known as Arjuna) belongs to the family, Combretaceae. Terminalia is a large genus of 250 species from tropical regions. Of these, twelve species are native to India and T. arjuna is an important species grown throughout the Indian peninsula. It is a valuable medicinal tree wherein the bark of the tree is not only used to lower blood pressure but also possesses astringent and cardiotonic properties. Arjuna helps in maintaining the cholesterol level at the normal rate as it contains antioxidant properties similar to Vitamin E. It is used for the treatment of coronary artery disease, heart failure, oedema, angina and hypercholesterolemia. In powdered form, the bark is used in hypertension and decoction as wash in ulcers. The bark is also useful in fractures, urethrorrhoea, diabetes, fatigue, asthma, bronchitis and tumours. It contains calcium and magnesium salts and glucosides. Arjuna bark has been proved beneficial for heart in a research carried out by Dr. K. N. Udupa in BHU-Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi (India).

Terminalia is also useful in treating hyper cholesterolemia (MILLER et al., 1998). It is expectorant, alexiteric, lithnotriptic and tonic. In addition to its cardiac effects, T. arjuna may also be protective against gastric ulcers, such as those caused by NSAID (DEVI, et al., 2007). Its roots are used as rat repellent. Due to evergreen nature of the tree species under south Gujarat agro-climatic conditions, the tree shows simultaneous vegetative and reproductive growth throughout the year exposing the tree to vagaries of -pests and mites attack at different stages of growth. There was no authentic information available on seasonal abundance of major insect-pests in general and the defoliating insect-pests particularly pink Gypsy moth, Lymantria mathura Moore (sal 148 JOURNAL OF APPLIED ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCHES defoliator) under south Gujarat agro-climatic conditions. So, the present investigation was carried out on studies pertaining to seasonal abundance of leaf defoliator oriented damage in relation to major abiotic factors on the basis of fixed plot, roving and nursery surveys under south Gujarat agro-climatic conditions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS The investigation on survey and surveillance of T. arjuna defoliator, L. mathura was carried out under field conditions as well as in T. arjuna nursery during November 2009 - October 2010 in Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat at fortnightly interval. For recording observations, 10 and 20 trees of uniform age (10-12 years old) were selected randomly in fixed plot and roving surveys, respectively. On each tree, number of healthy as well as damaged leaves was counted on each of the ten terminal twigs from the lower canopy and the damage was thus calibrated as per cent leaf damage. In nursery survey, number of damaged leaves was counted on each of 25 seedlings and was calibrated as per cent damaged seedling. In addition to the leaf damage, meteorological data based on temperature (maximum, minimum and average), relative humidity (morning, evening and average), rainfall, rainy days, sun shine and wind velocity starting from the preceding fortnight till the completion of the trial were recorded at fortnightly interval. To study the role and instantaneous effect of abiotic factors on fluctuations of pest oriented damage, correlation & regression was worked out.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The larva of Pink Gypsy moth or Sal defoliator, L. mathura is able to kill the tree when it is heavily stressed. Its attack thus leaves forests susceptible to pest outbreaks and predisposes them to forest fires. The reforestation of these areas is often complicated and takes much time. This can result in serious changes in the environment over large areas. Results of the present investigation based on seasonal abundance of the pest oriented leaf damage in relation to major abiotic factors was carried out in fixed plot, roving and nursery surveys and the results are presented and discussed here under:

(a) Seasonal abundance

In roving survey, the highest leaf damage (76.40 %) was observed during 49-50 SW (3–16 December, 2009), while lowest leaf damage (4.32) was observed during 17-18 SW (23 April - 6 May, 2010). The period of 15-16 SW (9-22 April, 2010) did not observe any damage of the pest under consideration (Table-1). Similarly in case of roving survey, highest leaf damage (78 %) was observed during 49-50 SW (3–16 December, 2009), while it was lowest (11.50 %) during 15-16 SW (9-22 April 2010). The period of 13-14 SW (26 March – 8 April 2010) did not record any damage of the pest (Table-1). Lastly, abundance of leaf defoliator oriented leaf damage in T. arjuna nurseries peaked (75.00 %) during 8-9 SW (19 February- 4 March, 2010) followed by 69.00 per cent during 10-11 SW (5-18 March, 2010) whereas, lowest leaf damage (7.00 %) was noticed during 14-15 SW i.e. 2-15 April, 2010 (Table-2).

(b) Correlation and regression

The instantaneous effect of major abiotic factors on seasonal fluctuation of leaf defoliator oriented damage was assessed using correlation and regression.In fixed plot survey, leaf damage due to leaf defoliator failed to exhibit significant positive correlation with any abiotic factor taken into consideration though, the relationship was significant and negative with temperature (maximum and average)(‘r’= -0.7005 and -0.6455) and wind velocity (‘r’= -0.5473). The multiple correlation coefficient (R) based on leaf JOURNAL OF APPLIED ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCHES 149 defoliator damage v/s abiotic factors was significant (R= 0.8883) indicating 76.03 per cent variation due to abiotic factors (Table-3). Similarly in roving survey, leaf defoliator damage failed to establish significant positive correlation with any factor however, it indicated significant negative correlation with temperature (maximum, minimum and average) (‘r’= -0.6757, -0.4462 and -0.6922) and wind velocity (‘r’= -0.5341). The multiple correlation coefficient (R) was highly significant (R= 0.8555) indicating 68.08 per cent variation due to all the abiotic factors (Table-3).

Likewise, leaf defoliator induced leaf damage failed to establish significant positive correlation with any of the weather factor taken into consideration during nursery survey in the present investigation however, it was significant and negative with temperature (minimum and average)(‘r’= -0.6546 and -0.6890) and wind velocity (‘r’= - 0.5812). The total impact of all the weather factors on leaf defoliator damage was 30.64 per cent indicating significant multiple correlation coefficient (R) of 0.7040 (Table-3).

The regression equations developed for leaf defoliator oriented leaf damage in relation to major abiotic factors are: ^ Y1 = 262.9255 - 6.7535(X1) – 1.4697(X3) – 5.0648(X10) ^ Y2 = 240.1152 – 18.4948 (X1) + 4.1644(X2) + 9.1408(X3) - 3.5448(X10) ^ Y3 = 189.1190 – 1.0951 (X2) – 4.2103(X3) – 0.4925(X10)

Where, Y1 = Per cent leaf defoliator damage in fixed plot survey Y2 = Per cent leaf defoliator damage in roving survey Y3 = Per cent leaf defoliator damage in nursery survey X1 = Maximum temperature X2 = Minimum temperature X3 = Average temperature X10 = Wind velocity

In fixed plot survey, it may be concluded that impact of abiotic factors on overall abundance of leaf defoliator remained highest (76.40 %) during 49-50 SW (3-15 December, 2009) when temperature (maximum and average) and wind velocity were low which is indicated by significantly negative correlation. The damage reached to the lowest level (4.32 %) during 17-18 SW (23 April-6 May, 2009) when temperature was almost at its highest level. So, it can be inferred that the period of 47-52 SW was the active period of the pest when minimum temperature and wind velocity were low leading to escalation in the pest intensity. Similarly in roving survey, incidence of leaf defoliator was maximum (78 %) during 49-50 SW, when temperature and wind velocity were low indicating significant negative correlation whereas, the period 15-16 SW indicated lowest damage (11.50) when temperature and wind velocity were increasing gradually. So, it indicates that pest damage increased with unit increase in temperature and wind velocity and vice- versa. Lastly in nursery survey, leaf damage by leaf defoliator peaked (75.00 %) during 8- 9 SW when temperature (minimum and average) and wind velocity were very low, while it remained lowest (7.00%) during 14-15 SW when temperature and wind velocity were gradually increasing.

Although, there are no reports available on seasonal incidence and fluctuation of Lymantria mathura population and damage in relation to abiotic factors on T. arjuna, so, work on other reported defoliating insect-pests on the tree species has been reviewed. 150 JOURNAL OF APPLIED ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCHES

RAO et al. (2006) found leaf folder Caloptilia tiselaea incidence remained highest during second week of November. They further reported negative and significant correlation with minimum and maximum temperature, while it was significant and positive with morning and evening relative humidity. Similarly, SANGHA and SOHI (2008) found maximum adult population of Poplar leaf defoliator during August – October with maximum parasitization during October – November at an average relative humidity of 50-80 % whereas, GARG et al. (2009) found correlation of incidence and population of Hyblaea puera in relation to maximum, minimum temperature and relative humidity of the corresponding period non–significant.

Table-1: Seasonal incidence of Terminalia arjuna leaf defoliator, Lymantria mathura in fixed plot and roving surveys

Dates of observation Standard Average leaf damage (%) week Fixed plot Roving survey survey 08-21 October, 2009 41-42 45.25 46.85 22 October- 04 November, 2009 43-44 48.15 50.15 05-18 November, 2009 45-46 54.48 56.80 19 November - 02 December, 2009 47-48 73.06 73.76 03- 16 December, 2009 49-50 76.40 78.00 17-31 December, 2009 51-52 69.42 71.52 01-14 January, 2010 1-2 55.22 57.52 15-28 January 2010 3-4 59.28 59.28 29 January -11 February, 2010 5-6 57.48 60.48 12- 25 February, 2010 7-8 50.25 55.25 26 February- 11 March 2010 9-10 46.20 51.20 12-25 March, 2010 11-12 40.24 44.24 26 March - 08 April, 2010 13-14 11.48 0.00 09-22 April, 2010 15-16 0.00 11.50 23 April- 06 May, 2010 17-18 4.32 16.00 07-20 May, 2010 19-20 7.12 15.06 21- May- 3 June, 2010 21-22 16.24 17.86 04-17 June, 2010 23-24 26.14 32.26 18 June- 1 July, 2010 25-26 40.00 30.04 02-15 July, 2010 27-28 47.28 44.80 16-29 July, 2010 29-30 62.56 61.46 30 July- 12 August, 2010 31-32 60.40 65.86 13-26 August, 2010 33-34 59.84 59.60 27 August- 9 September, 2010 35-36 72.80 60.00 10-23 September, 2010 37-38 71.04 61.86 24 September- 7 October, 2010 39-40 72.30 62.00

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Table 2:

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Table 3:

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In the current investigation, Terminalia arjuna leaf defoliator, Lymantria mathura oriented damage was highest (76.40 %) in fixed plot survey during 49-50 SW (3–16 December, 2009) while in roving survey, it remained highest (78 %) during 49-50 SW (03– 16 December, 2009). In nursery seedlings, it peaked (75%) during 8-9 SW (19 February – 4 March, 2010). In the earlier reports, the pest oriented damage was reportedly high during October-November, which is more or less the same as indicated in the current investigation. The similarity in the results obtained in the current investigation with those of earlier reports confirms the ongoing discussion. In the present investigation, incidence of leaf defoliator exhibited significant negative correlation with temperature and wind velocity. The results are supported by finding of RAO et al. (2006) who revealed that temperature was negatively correlated with high incidence of leaf folder. Thus, it may be concluded that leaf defoliator L. mathura oriented damage in T. arjuna peaked in December when temperature and wind velocity was comparatively low confirming the negative correlation between the two factors.

REFERENCES

DEVI, R.S.S., NARAYAN, G. V. and SHYAMALA DEVI (2007). Gastro protective effect of Terminalia arjuna bark on diclofenac sodium induced gastric ulcer. Chemico Biological Interact, 167 (1): 71–83. GARG, V.K., KULKERNI, N. and MESHRAM, P.B. (2009). Ecology implication on Hyblaea puera (Cramer) activity in Teak seedling. Indian J. of Forestry, 32(4): 477-480. MILLER A.L. (1998). Botanical influences on cardiovascular disease. Altern Med Rev, 3 (6): 422– 31. RAO, Y.S., RAJASKHAR, P., RAMASUBBARAO, V. and SRINIVASARAO, V. (2006). Seasonal occurrence of leaf eating caterpillars of cashew in Andhra Pradesh. Journal of Plant Protection and Environment, 3 (1) 132-135. SANGHA, K.S, and SOHI, A.S. (2008). Prospective biological control agents for regulation of population of Clostera fulgurita (Walker) on Poplar in Punjab. Indian J. of Forestry, 31(1): 95-98.