Research article

The effects of water deficit on the susceptibility of cashew seedlings foliage to attack by the red banded thrips-Soleno thrip Rubrocinctus –Giard

*¹Dangora II, ¹Kutama AS and ²Dawakiji AY

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa state, Nigeria

²Department of Crop Production Technology, Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Danbatta, Kano State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author E-mail: kutamasak@yahoo.com; Tel: +2347067371893

Accepted 17 September 2014

Abstract

To determine the level of water deficit favoring the attack of pests (Red banded thrips) in cashew seedlings foliages, cashew seeds were germinated and raised to saplings (50-60cm) in polythene bags in a nursery. Sixteen vigorous seedlings were selected and transferred to a screen house and formed into four treatments as follows. Control (A) mild water deficit, (B) severe water deficit, (C) more severe water deficit (D) using densitometers to record the water deficit levels of each group. These seedlings were subjected to water deficit levels of 60 centibars (cb) 70 centibars (cb), and 80 centibars (cb), respectively by the trial and error method. Plants heights (cm), number of leave and transpiration rates of each group were assessed in six weeks and 2 experiments to determine the choice of the red banded thrips on the leaves from these treatment groups were carried out using 4 leaves decapitated at random from each treatment and exposing them to these insects in enclosed clear plastic boxes. Plant height, number of leaves, water loss (transpiration) were shown to be significantly different between the treatments were observed. The results of the experiment conducted have shown that the insect clearly choose leaves from control and mild water deficit more than they did severe and more severe water deficited leaves.

Keywords: water deficit, cashew seedlings, growth parameters, Red banded thrips, pest