Abstract

A previous study conducted on possible control of teak mistletoe in Kerala has suggested infusion of suitable weedicides into the trunk as a possible method for selective killing of mistletoe without harming teak trees. Further, it also provided positive indication of efficacy of metribuzin out of the 19 weedicides screened against teak mistletoe. In the present study also, metribuzin has shown encouraging results with 100, 300 amd 500 ml aqueous solutions containing 25 and 50 mg a.i/I infused into parasite-infected trees. However, their efficiency to kill the parasite is not proportionate to the quantity of herbicide infused. The experiment need to be repeated using 300 and 500 ml herbicide solution containing 25 and 50 mg a.i./I with increased number of replications to arrive at a final conclusion regarding the suitability of dosage and time of infusion. Infusion of Atrazin and simazine did not show any effect on the parasite, Glyphosate which defoliated the parasite partially at 200 mg a.i/I concentration, require further confirmation of its efficacy using higher concentrations. The addition of adjuvants did not show any significant improvement in the performance of metribuzin. Sreening more weedicides for selective action agaist mistletoe is to be continued. Low-cost plastic nozzles were fabricated locally during the course of project work to replace costly metallic nozzles used earlier