Volume : 4, Issue : 7, July - 2015

ALTERATIONS IN THE CARBOHYDRATE CONTENTS IN LEAF GALLS OF CINNAMOMUM VERUM (PRESL.) DUE TO INFESTATION BY THE GALL MITE, ACERIA DOCTERSI (NALEPA, 1909) (ACARI: ERIOPHYIDAE)

P. N. M. Nasareen, N. Ramani

Abstract :

<p>Aceria doctersi (Nalepa, 1909) is a highly host specific eriophyid mite inducing varying numbers of pouched galls on the leaves, leaf petioles, inflorescence and young shoots of Cinnamomum verum (Presl.), one of the most economically important spice cum medicinal crop. In the present study, quantitative analysis was carried out to estimate the carbohydrate contents present in mite induced young (10 days old), mature (35 days old), samples of C. verum, following the method of Sadasivan and Manikam, (2008). A significant increase in carbohydrate contents was observed in both the young and mature gall tissue when compared to the tissue around rim of gall, heavily infested galled leaf and uninfested (control) leaf tissues (P&lt;.0001). Thus, the results of the study could establish that gall formation by A. doctersi would substantially lead to a reduction in the growth rate, leaf area, biomass etc. of the host plant, C. verum.</p>