Severe Infestation of Killer Mistletoe on Toona ciliata in New Forest, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21276/pt.2025.v2.i4.8Keywords:
Infestation, Mistletoe, Genetic Improvement, Management Strategies, Toon treeAbstract
Toona ciliata M. Roem. is a big tree with various economic uses. Mistletoes are partial parasites that attack a number of commercially important tree crops, resulting in the declining quality and quantity of the end product. In the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Toon trees are planted as avenue trees at different locations and are infested by mistletoe. The aim of the study was to identify the mistletoe species and to assess the infestation. The mistletoe species was identified as Scurrula pulverulenta (Wall.) G. Don. A study reveals varying levels of mistletoe infestation in the branches of Toon trees. In most cases, the infestation is in the initial stages, though some trees showed severe infestation. Suitable management strategies to check infestation are suggested.
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