Survival of Kerria lacca (Kerr) on pigeon pea

Abstract

Number of live lac insects (Kerria lacca) on the host plant till the harvest of lac crop, decides the lac yield. Survival of K. lacca is therefore one of the most important factors for higher lac productivity. The present study on the survival of K. lacca on pigeon pea was carried with eight treatments which was replicated thrice. Apart from the basal dose of DAP and MoP, biofertilizers and humic acid were also applied as per the treatments for growing pigeon pea (TJT-501). Soil, foilar and soil + foliar applications were the three types of treatments applications. The mean number of live lac insects (MNL) was maximum 69.81 to 82.29 per 2.5 cm2 at 30 days after Brood lac inoculation (BLI). It declined in linear trend till the harvest of lac crop. At 195 days after BLI the MNL varied BLI from 34.50 to 40.85 per 2.5cm2. It was highest in the C. cajan with soil applications of VAM, DAP, MoP and FYM.