Article: FIRST RECORD OF A TORYMIDAE INFESTATION IN THE SEEDS OF CORDIA MACLEODII HOOK. F. & THOMSON: INHIBITING SEED GERMINATION

Article Category: Original Research articles

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.15238

Pages: 51-55

Author: Arun Manohar Gurav *, Gayatri Vishant Vaze, Rekha Bhagawan Nirawane, Rasika Hemchandra Kolhe, Shyam Baboo Prasad, Goli Penchala Prasad

Abstract: Background: The seed germination percentage was found to be very low; hence, the investigation was carried out to find out the seed infestation. Aim and Objective: To discover the cause of the low percentage of seed germination. To report the Torymidae infestation in Cordia macleodii Hook. F. & Thomson. Material and methods: Mature fruits and seeds were collected from 10 plants of two selected localities. Longitudinal sections were taken to determine the infection in buds, immature, mature fruits and seeds. Documentation of different stages was recorded. Identification and authentication were performed based on characters observed and reports from ICAR- National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bangalore. Discussion: The insect species was identified as a species belonging to the Family Torymidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). The fruits of Cordia macleodii Hook. F. & Thomson showed internal as well as external infestation. Conclusion: The investigation's findings confirmed that the low seed germination is due to the infestation of the Torymidae insect, which was reported in this communication for the first time.

Keyword: Cordia macleodii, Dahipalasha, infestation, seed germination, Torymidae