Abstract

Pest incidence and its influence on nursery management in forest nurseries of selected indigenous tree species has been studied in Kerala, India. The species selected for this study (viz., Albizia odoratissima, Grewia tiliaefolia, Pterocarpus marsupium, Xylia xylocarpa, Haldina cordifolia and Lagerstroemia microcarpa) are noted for their high commercial value as well as their relative resistance to pest attack in natural stands. Seedlings which were raised on standard nursery beds were under observation for 2 years before being transplanted to the field. Haldina cordifolia and G. tiliaefolia showed almost absolute freedom from any major pest damage while the other species suffered moderate to heavy damage by one or more insect pests. Stunting of seedlings due to psyllid bugs was the main problem in A. odoratissima and P. marsupium. Attack by these insects caused heavy casuality of seedlings both in the nursery as well as in the trial plantation. Attack by a top-shoot