Abstract

Poplar shoot borer, Eucosma glaciata Meyrick is a serious insect pest and causes a heavy damage to seedlings at nursery stage. An experiment was conducted to determine the natural resistance in different species and clones of exotic poplar against this borer through field observations on the basis of percentage attack. Among the species tested, P. deltoides was found to be least preferred, followed by P. yunnanensis and P. eumericana. Out of 58 clones of P. deltoides examined, 3 clones namely 3298, C-61 and L-75/84 were observed to be least attacked, varying from 10.00 - 13.32% and considered most resistant, whereas remaining clones ranked as highly resistant (14 number clones), resistant (7), moderately resistant (20), least resistant (7), moderately susceptible (4), susceptible (2) and most susceptible (1). The present results indicate the existence of a resistance phenomena in poplar species and clones suggesting the possibility for managing this pest through planting the resistant species and clones.

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