| Experiment code | 17.3.3.93 | ||
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| Experiment Title | Biodiversity of mites associated with date palm in Kutch | ||
| Research Type | Departmental Research | ||
| Experiment Background | The date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecales: Arecaceae) is an important food and cash crop which thrives well in the world's hot arid regions. Date palm is one of the oldest trees known to mankind. It is thought that it originated in Mesopotamia (Iraq), where it was grown some 6000 years ago. The date palm, being evergreen with its peculiar morphology, offers shelter and food for a wide variety of arthropod pests and their natural enemies. Diseases and pests that pose a yield loss of 30 per cent are the key biotic constraints that hinder the cultivation and production of palm dates. However, the nature and extent of the problems differ according to cultivar, place, environment, and cultural practices. 132 species of insect and mite pests connected to date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) grown all over the world. These species are distributed among eight orders of insects and 30 families, in addition to one order of mites composed of nine families. The majority of the species (52) were recorded on the leaf (frond) while the roots and trunk were identified with 26 species. Green fruits host 27 species each with their stalks and stored dates. Coleoptera made up 41% of the pest species described, followed by Hemiptera (20%), Acari (16%) and Lepidoptera (12%). Although the number of date palm pest species appears to be large, a few species of mites are considered major economically important pests. Factors such as date palm monoculture, global warming, unregulated insecticide application and global movement of date palm planting materials have affected the mites and their natural enemies. The sap feeders have piercing-sucking or rasping mouthparts which suck the sap on the affected parts causing chlorotic spots and discolouration. This group includes the small phytophagous mites, thrips, insect scales, mealy bugs, and dubas bug. At crown regions, where soft and succulent tissues occur, they are located outside the date palm. Mites can be found on either the blade of the leaf or on fruits where they can cause yield losses of 100 per cent. Oligonychus afrasiaticus, the date dust mite, is by far the most important pests that damage the date palm producing fruits. These plant feeders cause various types of direct damage such as loss of chlorophyll, appearance of stippling or bronzing of all kinds of leaves, stunting of growth, extreme defoliation and reduction of yield / marketable products and indirect damage. Given the value of date palm and the extent of the mites, detailed knowledge on various aspects of pest management becomes important. The comprehensive research will be will be needed; therefore, the present experiment will be proposed. | ||
| Experiment Group | Agricultural Entomology | ||
| Unit Type | (02)EDUCATION UNIT | ||
| Unit | (12)NAVINCHANDRA MAFATLAL COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE (NAVSARI) | ||
| Department | (259)Entomology Department, NMCA, Navsari | ||
| BudgetHead | (303/02092/0A)303/26/REG/00021 | ||
| Objective |
To study the diversity of mites infesting date palm in Gujarat |
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| Season | Not season specific | ||
| Location Unit Type | (02)EDUCATION UNIT | ||
| Location Unit | (12)NAVINCHANDRA MAFATLAL COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE (NAVSARI) | ||
| Location Department | (259)Entomology Department, NMCA, Navsari | ||
| Plot No | Date Research Station, SDAU, Mundra | ||
| PI Name | (NAU-EMP-2008-000170)ABHISHEK GYANESHCHANDER SHUKLA | ||
| PI Email | abhishekshukla@nau.in | ||
| PI Mobile | 9724304675 | ||
| Year of Approval | 2021 | ||
| Commencement Year | 2021 | ||
| Completion Year | 2024 | ||
| Design of Experiment |
NA |
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| Crop Spacing (cm x cm) |
NA |
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| Gross Plot (m x m) | NA | ||
| Net Plot (m x m) | NA | ||
| Total Experiment Area (m2) | NA | ||
| Plot History Last Three Year |
NA |
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| Initial Soil Sample Analysis Report |
NA |
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| Initial Soil Sample Analysis Report Attachment | Attachment Not Available! | ||
| Layout Plan |
NA |
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| Layout Plan Attachment | Attachment Not Available! | ||
| Treatment |
The experiment was carried out in association with Date Research Station, SDAU, Mundra. The survey was carried out by and the mites were collected from leaflets and dates. The collected mites were preserved and send to AINP on Agricultural Acarology, UAS, Bangalore for further identifications. However, with the help of keys the species infesting the dates were identified as Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGeogar) (Acari: Tetranychidae). Some predatory mites were also collected from the datepalm, they were also send for identification. |
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| Treatment Attachment | Attachment Not Available! | ||
| (NAU-EMP-2008-000170) ABHISHEK GYANESHCHANDER SHUKLA | abhishekshukla@nau.in | 9724304675 | 19-02-2022 |
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| (NAU-EMP-2015-000240) KAPILKUMAR MOHANLAL PATEL | kapilpatel@nau.in | 7600058093 | 2021 |
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| (NAU-EMP-2018-000359) DEVABHAI SHIVABHAI RABARI | dsrabari@nau.in | 8511680714 | 2021 |
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