Occurrence of Diseases on Muga Silkworm Host Plant Perseabombycina Kost. in District Bageshwar, Uttarakhand-A Survey Report

Abstract

In sericulture, diseases of silkworm host plants are the major constraint in realising the foliage potentiality of the plant under feeding of silkworms and the ultimate conversion of cocoons during crops. Diseases make the leaf unpalatable for muga silkworms and cause reduction in total leaf yield and ultimately affect cocoon yield production. In the present article, a survey of foliage diseases was carried out on one of the primary host plant Persea bombycina Kost. of Muga silkworm during the calendar year 2012 and 2013. It was observed that foliar diseases like red rust, leaf spot, grey blight and brown blight are common diseases occurring on the plant species in District Bageshwar of Uttarakhand state, which affects the foliage yield of the plant as well as quality and quantity of cocoon production.