STUDIES ON MULBERRY PEST (GLYPHODES PYLOALIS WALKER) AS AN ALTERNATE HOST TO THE PATHOGENS OF SILKWORM (BOMBYX MORI L.) DISEASES

In the present study, susceptibility of the mulberry pest G. pyloalis to the pathogens of silkworm, Bombyx mori was ascertained. The survey was carried out at the three locations viz. Mulberry farms of College of Temperate Sericulture, Mirgund and two mulberry farms of Sericulture Development Department, J&K located at Mirgund and Tulsibagh, Srinagar. The plantation is ravaged by different pests and diseases and as many as 11 major and 10 minor insect pests have been reported from Jammu and Kashmir (Sharma and Tara, 1985; Khan et al., 2004). Under temperate conditions, G. pyloalis (Walker) causes severe damage to mulberry crop and is considered as a major pest of mulberry in Jammu and Kashmir (Fotadar et al., 1998). Zeya et al. (2003) reported 20-25 percent damage to mulberry foliage in Kashmir is due to G. Pyloalis during July to October. The survey study showed high infestation of G. Pyloalis during the month of October, 2017 and 2018. The maximum infestation of 73.03% was observed at SDD Tulsi Bagh followed by 45.20% at SDD Mirgund and 32.99% at CoTS Farm. During the study various stages of G. Pyloalis were found infected with the Microsporidian and Nuclear Polyhedral Virus whereas Fungal and bacterial pathogens were not observed during the present study. The mean incidence of Microsporidian and NPV was observed as 4.22% and 5.99% percent respectively during October, 2017. In the present study, susceptibility of the mulberry pest G. Pyloalis to the pathogens of silkworm, Bombyx mori was ascertained so that management strategies are taken accordingly