Abstract

The teak plantations in Kerala are affected by a mistletoe, Dendrophthoe falcata var. pubescens. The study conducted to assess the effect of mistletoe on teak revealed that wood of mistletoe infested trees had ultimate strength values nearly 14 lower than that of non-infested trees. Also, the mistletoe infestation reduced the modulus of elasticity of wood. For critical structural use, one should select wood of density 600 km/m3 and above