Vol. 12, Issue 4 (2023)

Author(s):
JG Dulera, DB Sisodiya, VK Chaudhari, AS Bhanvadiya and AT Raval

Abstract:
A study was conducted to identify the new pest infesting Yellow date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, L. in Gujarat, India. During the orchard visit in the month of October 2022, palm trees in experimental area of Regional Research Station (RRS) and Horticulture Farm, Anand Agriculture University, Anand, were found infested with this pest. The percent leaflet infestation was recorded 43.20, 40.82 and 16.22 percent and 36.86, 31.81 and 14.01 percent, respectively on bottom, middle and top fronds of P. dactylifera at RRS farm and Horticulture farm. Total 72.90 percent, 67.36 percent frond infestation was recorded on P. dactylifera in RRS farm and Horticulture farm, respectively. Palm infestation was recorded 55.33 percent in RRS farm while, 66.00 percent in Horticulture farm. Adult were collected and brought to the laboratory of Department of Entomology, B. A. College of Agriculture, AAU, and Anand for identification and further study. Based on morphological characterization, the pest was identified as Indian Date palm leaf miner, Javeta pallida, Baly. It is the first confirmed report of occurrence of the new pest infesting P. dactylifera in Gujarat, India.