Health and sustainable management of teak stands V.V. Sudheendrakumar Kerala Forest Research Institute Peechi- 680653, Thrissur, Kerala, India Email:
[email protected] Abstract Teak ( Tectona grandis L.f.) has been planted in over 36 countries across the tropical and subtropical regions in the Asian, African and American continents as well as many islands in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The insect pests of teak can be broadly classified as defoliators, stem borers and root feeders. Defoliators cause loss in volume increment in plantations as they feed on leaves. The most important defoliators are the lepidopterans namely, Hyblaea puera , Eutectona machaeralis and Paliga damastesalis . The borers belonging to the Lepidoptera include Alcterogystia cadambae , Xyleutes ceramicus and Sahydrassus malabaricus . The root feeders include white grubs belonging to the coleopterans. For most of the above pests data is not available on the economic impact caused except the information on the damage potential. H. puera is the only pest for which economic loss has been assessed based on the work done in Kerala. Accordingly effective biocontrol strategies involving a baculovirus have been developed and field- tested to manage this pest. However, no routine defoliator management is being practiced in any teak growing areas. Disease incidences are common in nurseries and plantations. Major diseases encountered are bacterial collar rot, bacterial wilt, pink disease, Phomopsis leaf spot, Colletotrichum leaf spot, leaf rust, etc. Chemical control is usually adopted for the management of such diseases. Keywords: Insect pests of teak , defoliators, Hyblaea puera, stem borers, biocontrol, diseases of teak Introduction Teak ( Tectona grandis L.f.) whose natural distribution was limited originally to some parts of South and Southeast Asia, is now one of the most widespread tropical tree species.