Sarmishta V (2017-17-011)
Standardization of tree injection procedures of azadirachtin in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.) and neem (Azadirachta indica A Juss.) - Vellanikkara Department of Forest Products and Utilization, College of Forestry 2019 - 105 CD
MSc
Trunk or tree injection is a modern method of treating medium and large trees against pests by applying systemic pesticides to its trunk. This method is helpful in controlling insect pests in urban landscapes because it minimizes the risk of the applicator to the chemical and off target exposure. Moreover, the chemical used in this study is azadirachtin, which is a neem based bio pesticide. This is eco friendly and does not affect the large living organisms. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) and mango (Mangifera indica L.) are commercially the most important fruit crops of India. Whereas neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) is a major component of urban and community forests in India since time immemorial. They are important commercial species yielding fruits and other various important commodities like wood, medicines and fibres. The challenge faced by these species is the invasion of various pests. Farmers currently count on chemical insecticides to control insect pests. The heavy use of synthetic pesticides has caused an increased cost in managing pests, environmental pollution and other social problems. Heavy use of inorganic insecticides since ages has led to the destruction of natural predators and parasitoids of the pests. The study was conducted to standardize tree injection procedures for coconut, mango and neem using azadirachtin under the prevailing agro - climatic conditions. The study was conducted in the Department of Forest Products and Utilization, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara during 2017-2019. The summary of the findings is provided below. Basic density was not significant between the three size classes of coconut. In general, the basic density of coconut palm was 354.33 kg/m3. In mango, basic density was not significant between three size classes. In general, the basic density ranged from 519.63 kg/m3 to 539.52 kg/m3 irrespective of size class. 85 The basic density was not significant between the three size classes of neem. In general, the basic density ranged from 679.59 kg/m3 to 738.42 kg/m3 irrespective of size class. In general, the average basic density of coconut palm wood, mango wood and neem wood were 354.33 kg/m3, 526.87 kg/m3 and 712.6276 kg/m3, indicating that neem is denser than coconut palm wood and mango. Moisture content was not significant for coconut palm wood belonging to three size classes (50-60cm, 60-70cm, 70-80cm) did not show significant difference. In general, the moisture content of coconut palm wood ranged from 74.33% to 133.09% irrespective of size class. Moisture content was not significant between the three different size classes of mango. The moisture content of mango wood ranged from 65.12% to 79.76% irrespective of size class. The moisture content of wood was not significant between the three different size classes of neem. In general, the moisture content of neem wood ranged from 33.23% to 41.18% irrespective of size class. In general, the average wood moisture of coconut palm, mango and neem were 111.54%, 73.27% and 36.58% respectively. This result indicated that coconut palm wood possess high moisture content. High density wood thickness of coconut palm wood did not show any significant difference between three size classes. And average high density wood thickness was 3.5cm and was not more than 4.89cm. It means that the thickness of high density wood does not vary with the change in size class. Thus a depth of 6 cm was fixed to inject chemicals into coconut palm. Sapwood thickness of mango wood was not significant between three size classes. And average sapwood thickness was 6.18cm and was never smaller than 3.27cm. Indicating the thickness of sapwood does not vary with the 86 change in size class. Thus a depth of 3 cm was fixed to deliver chemicals into the tree trunk. Sapwood thickness of neem wood was not significant between three size classes. And average sapwood thickness was 4.38cm and was never smaller than 3.02cm. It means that the thickness of physiologically live wood (sapwood) does not vary with the change in size class, which made to fix the depth as 3 cm. Vessel diameter was significant for coconut palm wood, mango and neem. Mango showed a high mean value of 245.41 μm and coconut palm wood showed a mean value of 110.20 μm. Fibre length showed a significant difference between the three species. Coconut palm wood showed the highest mean value of 1611.17 μm and mango showed the lowest mean value of 257.12 μm. Fibre diameter showed a significant difference between coconut, mango and neem. Coconut had the widest diameter of 18.28 μm, whereas mango had the smallest diameter of 13.36 μm. Fibre lumen width of coconut palm wood, mango and neem showed a significant difference. The mean value was highest for coconut palm wood (14.99 μm) and lowest for mango (8.98 μm). Vessel frequency indicated no significant variation between the species. Neem showed highest vessel frequency of 5.4/mm2, followed by mango (4.8/mm2) and coconut (4/mm2). Ray height was not significant between mango and neem. Ray width was not significant between mango and neem. Neem had the highest ray width of 181.15 μm when compared with mango with a mean value of 29.20 μm. 87 The bundle sheath thickness of coconut palm wood indicated no significant difference between the size classes. The values ranged from 306.89 μm to 347.16 μm with a mean value of 318.22 μm. Vascular bundle diameter of the coconut palm was not significant though the values ranged from 311.39 μm to 354.91 μm with a mean value of 334.16 μm. Photosynthesis between the three species of coconut, mango and neem showed no significant difference. Photosynthesis was observed to be the highest in coconut palm (2.22 μmol2/m2/s) followed by neem (1.40 μmol2/m2/s) and mango (1.14 μmol2/m2/s). The mean values of transpiration were 0.58 mmol/m2/s, 2.61 mmol/m2/s and 1.47 mmol/m2/s in coconut palm, mango and neem respectively. The analysis of variance indicated a significant variation between the species. The mean values ranged from 161/mm2, 536/mm2 and 265/mm2 in coconut, mango and neem respectively. The analysis of variance showed a significant difference between the species. Stomatal frequency was highest in mango (536/mm2) and lowest in coconut (161/mm2). Leaf temperature was significant between coconut palm, mango and neem. The values for leaf temperature were 34.06°C, 31.52°C and31.29°C for coconut, mango and neem respectively. Leaf moisture indicated a significant difference between the three species. Mango had the highest leaf moisture followed by coconut and neem. In coconut, transpiration was positively correlated to photosynthesis and vessel diameter was positively correlated to fibre length. There were no negative correlations between the anatomical and physical properties of coconut. Mango showed a positive correlation between photosynthesis and leaf temperature, and a negative correlation between leaf moisture and 88 photosynthesis. At the same time, leaf temperature was also negatively correlated to leaf moisture. In case of neem, transpiration is positively correlated to leaf temperature and stomatal rate is negatively correlated to leaf moisture. Azadirachtin was found to be accumulated in leaves of coconut palm and leaves of mango and neem did not show traces of azadirachtin in detectable levels. Azadirachtin traces were found on coconut leaves collected on the second day after injection was conducted above detectable levels (0.14μg/g).
Coconut
Mango
Neem
/ SAR/ST
Standardization of tree injection procedures of azadirachtin in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.) and neem (Azadirachta indica A Juss.) - Vellanikkara Department of Forest Products and Utilization, College of Forestry 2019 - 105 CD
MSc
Trunk or tree injection is a modern method of treating medium and large trees against pests by applying systemic pesticides to its trunk. This method is helpful in controlling insect pests in urban landscapes because it minimizes the risk of the applicator to the chemical and off target exposure. Moreover, the chemical used in this study is azadirachtin, which is a neem based bio pesticide. This is eco friendly and does not affect the large living organisms. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) and mango (Mangifera indica L.) are commercially the most important fruit crops of India. Whereas neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) is a major component of urban and community forests in India since time immemorial. They are important commercial species yielding fruits and other various important commodities like wood, medicines and fibres. The challenge faced by these species is the invasion of various pests. Farmers currently count on chemical insecticides to control insect pests. The heavy use of synthetic pesticides has caused an increased cost in managing pests, environmental pollution and other social problems. Heavy use of inorganic insecticides since ages has led to the destruction of natural predators and parasitoids of the pests. The study was conducted to standardize tree injection procedures for coconut, mango and neem using azadirachtin under the prevailing agro - climatic conditions. The study was conducted in the Department of Forest Products and Utilization, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara during 2017-2019. The summary of the findings is provided below. Basic density was not significant between the three size classes of coconut. In general, the basic density of coconut palm was 354.33 kg/m3. In mango, basic density was not significant between three size classes. In general, the basic density ranged from 519.63 kg/m3 to 539.52 kg/m3 irrespective of size class. 85 The basic density was not significant between the three size classes of neem. In general, the basic density ranged from 679.59 kg/m3 to 738.42 kg/m3 irrespective of size class. In general, the average basic density of coconut palm wood, mango wood and neem wood were 354.33 kg/m3, 526.87 kg/m3 and 712.6276 kg/m3, indicating that neem is denser than coconut palm wood and mango. Moisture content was not significant for coconut palm wood belonging to three size classes (50-60cm, 60-70cm, 70-80cm) did not show significant difference. In general, the moisture content of coconut palm wood ranged from 74.33% to 133.09% irrespective of size class. Moisture content was not significant between the three different size classes of mango. The moisture content of mango wood ranged from 65.12% to 79.76% irrespective of size class. The moisture content of wood was not significant between the three different size classes of neem. In general, the moisture content of neem wood ranged from 33.23% to 41.18% irrespective of size class. In general, the average wood moisture of coconut palm, mango and neem were 111.54%, 73.27% and 36.58% respectively. This result indicated that coconut palm wood possess high moisture content. High density wood thickness of coconut palm wood did not show any significant difference between three size classes. And average high density wood thickness was 3.5cm and was not more than 4.89cm. It means that the thickness of high density wood does not vary with the change in size class. Thus a depth of 6 cm was fixed to inject chemicals into coconut palm. Sapwood thickness of mango wood was not significant between three size classes. And average sapwood thickness was 6.18cm and was never smaller than 3.27cm. Indicating the thickness of sapwood does not vary with the 86 change in size class. Thus a depth of 3 cm was fixed to deliver chemicals into the tree trunk. Sapwood thickness of neem wood was not significant between three size classes. And average sapwood thickness was 4.38cm and was never smaller than 3.02cm. It means that the thickness of physiologically live wood (sapwood) does not vary with the change in size class, which made to fix the depth as 3 cm. Vessel diameter was significant for coconut palm wood, mango and neem. Mango showed a high mean value of 245.41 μm and coconut palm wood showed a mean value of 110.20 μm. Fibre length showed a significant difference between the three species. Coconut palm wood showed the highest mean value of 1611.17 μm and mango showed the lowest mean value of 257.12 μm. Fibre diameter showed a significant difference between coconut, mango and neem. Coconut had the widest diameter of 18.28 μm, whereas mango had the smallest diameter of 13.36 μm. Fibre lumen width of coconut palm wood, mango and neem showed a significant difference. The mean value was highest for coconut palm wood (14.99 μm) and lowest for mango (8.98 μm). Vessel frequency indicated no significant variation between the species. Neem showed highest vessel frequency of 5.4/mm2, followed by mango (4.8/mm2) and coconut (4/mm2). Ray height was not significant between mango and neem. Ray width was not significant between mango and neem. Neem had the highest ray width of 181.15 μm when compared with mango with a mean value of 29.20 μm. 87 The bundle sheath thickness of coconut palm wood indicated no significant difference between the size classes. The values ranged from 306.89 μm to 347.16 μm with a mean value of 318.22 μm. Vascular bundle diameter of the coconut palm was not significant though the values ranged from 311.39 μm to 354.91 μm with a mean value of 334.16 μm. Photosynthesis between the three species of coconut, mango and neem showed no significant difference. Photosynthesis was observed to be the highest in coconut palm (2.22 μmol2/m2/s) followed by neem (1.40 μmol2/m2/s) and mango (1.14 μmol2/m2/s). The mean values of transpiration were 0.58 mmol/m2/s, 2.61 mmol/m2/s and 1.47 mmol/m2/s in coconut palm, mango and neem respectively. The analysis of variance indicated a significant variation between the species. The mean values ranged from 161/mm2, 536/mm2 and 265/mm2 in coconut, mango and neem respectively. The analysis of variance showed a significant difference between the species. Stomatal frequency was highest in mango (536/mm2) and lowest in coconut (161/mm2). Leaf temperature was significant between coconut palm, mango and neem. The values for leaf temperature were 34.06°C, 31.52°C and31.29°C for coconut, mango and neem respectively. Leaf moisture indicated a significant difference between the three species. Mango had the highest leaf moisture followed by coconut and neem. In coconut, transpiration was positively correlated to photosynthesis and vessel diameter was positively correlated to fibre length. There were no negative correlations between the anatomical and physical properties of coconut. Mango showed a positive correlation between photosynthesis and leaf temperature, and a negative correlation between leaf moisture and 88 photosynthesis. At the same time, leaf temperature was also negatively correlated to leaf moisture. In case of neem, transpiration is positively correlated to leaf temperature and stomatal rate is negatively correlated to leaf moisture. Azadirachtin was found to be accumulated in leaves of coconut palm and leaves of mango and neem did not show traces of azadirachtin in detectable levels. Azadirachtin traces were found on coconut leaves collected on the second day after injection was conducted above detectable levels (0.14μg/g).
Coconut
Mango
Neem
/ SAR/ST