Biology and Management of Insect-Pests of Seeds of Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch and Evaluating the Insect-Pests Resistance Performance in the Nursery for Three Years.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Pawan Kumar, Scientist-C
Duration: 2012-15

Objectives:

Survey, seasonal abundance and biology of pre and post harvest insect-pests of berries and seeds of Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch.
To identify the natural enemies of berries and seed insects and screening of Bio-pesticides and safe chemicals in the laboratory to control seed insect-pest.
To develop management practices against insect-pests for the Berries and seeds of Juniper
To evaluate the viability of Juniper seeds in the nursery.

Achievement::

During the study, juniper berries has been collected from Lahaul and Kinnaur districts of Himachal Pradesh. Larvae of lepidopteran insects have been observed feeding on the seeds and two lepidopteran borer species has been identified causing damage to the seeds. Seeds have been kept in storage container and data on seeds damage has been recorded periodically.
Bio-pesticides and insecticides (4 nos.) has been selected for control of insect pests and pathogens of juniper seeds to check the population of insect pests and pathogens.
Replications of treated Juniper Seeds have been kept under observation to study the impact of treatments.
Different concentrations of Neem based pesticides; safer chemicals have also been applied to analyze the control of insect pests during storage.
Nursery trials of the healthy, infected and treated seed will be raised to study the impact of insect pests in developing nursery stock. Juniper berries have been collected from two sources of Lahaul and Kinnaur and seeds are extracted from these berries.
Periodic observations on impact assessment due to various treatments of Biopesticides/insecticides is observed and noted.
During this period the achievements are achieved as per action plan for each activity. The seeds have been kept in different storage container and have been kept under observation as per the design and methodology to access the impact of various treatments in controlling the effect of pests’ attacks.
Biopesticides and a safe chemical have been applied to test their impact in controlling the insect pests and pathogen attack. The data of seed damage is taken fortnightly and are observed randomly to check any serious effect of borer and pathogens.

Larvae & Pupae of Infected Juniper Berries
Adult Emerged from Infected	Juniper Berries Pupae of Juniper Berry	Infected Juniper Berry in Natural Condition